m 


r 


LIBRARY    ' 


g     UNIVERSITY  OF 
^-      CALIFORNIA 


L  E 


RARY 


tIN-VESSlTY  Of 
CALIFORNIA  , 


Anne  of  (ieierstein. 


The  University  Press,  Cambridge,  U.S.A. 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 


Anne  of  Geierstein  [see  page  24] Frontispiece 

'  '  The  third  killed  the  poor  bird  as  it  rose 

into  the  air '  " Facing  page    48 

'To  the  general   greeting  he   answered, — 

*  I  thank  you,  my  brave  comrades '"  .     .      "         "      112 

'  *  Nobles,   Knights,   gentlemen   of  freebom 

blood,  and  good  citizens,'  he  said "      .     .      "         "      198 

*The  President  .  .  .  arose,  and  lajdng  his 

hands  on  the  symbols " "  "      254 

'  'I  set  at  it,'  said  the  daring  young  Swiss  "      "         "      352 

'  '  I   saw  the  guns  taken  and  my  &,ithful 

cannoneers  slain '  " "         "     430 


INTRODUCTION  TO  ANNE  OF 
GEIERSTEIN 


THIS  novel  was  written  at  a  time  when  circumstances  did 
not  place  within  my  reach  the  stores  of  a  library  toler- 
ably rich  in  historical  works,  and  especially  the  memoirs 
of  the  middle  ages,  amidst  which  I  had  been  accustomed  to  pur- 
sue the  composition  of  my  fictitious  narratives.  In  other  words, 
it  was  chiefly  the  work  of  leisure  hours  in  Edinburgh,  not  of 
quiet  mornings  in  the  country.  In  consequence  of  trusting  to 
a  memory  strongly  tenacious  certainly,  but  not  less  capricious  in 
its  efforts,  I  have  to  confess  on  this  occasion  more  violations  of 
accuracy  in  historical  details  than  can  perhaps  be  alleged  against 
others  of  my  novels.  In  truth,  often  as  I  have  been  compli- 
mented on  the  strength  of  my  memory,  I  have  through  life  been 
entitled  to  adopt  old  Beattie  of  Meikledale's  answer  to  his  par- 
ish minister,  when  eulogising  him  with  respect  to  the  same  fac- 
ulty. *No,  doctor,'  said  the  honest  border-laird,  'I  have  no 
command  of  my  memory  :  it  only  retains  what  happens  to  hit 
my  fancy,  and  like  enough,  sir,  if  you  were  to  preach  to  me  for 
a  couple  of  hours  on  end,  I  might  be  unable  at  the  close  of  the 
discourse  to  remember  one  word  of  it.'  Perhaps  there  are  few 
men  whose  memory  serves  them  with  equal  fidelity  as  to  many 
different  classes  of  subjects ;  but  I  am  sorry  to  say  that,  while 
mine  has  rarely  failed  me  as  to  any  snatch  of  verse  or  trait  of 
character  that  had  once  interested  my  fancy,  it  has  generally 
been  a  frail  support,  not  only  as  to  names,  and  dates,  and  other 
minute  technicalities  of  history,  but  as  to  many  more  important 
things. 

I  hope  this  apology  will  suffice  for  one  mistake  which  has 
been  pointed  out  to  me  by  the  descendant  of  one  of  the  persons 
introduced  in  this  story,  and  who  complains  with  reason  that  I 
have  made  a  peasant  deputy  of  the  ancestor  of  a  distinguished 
and  noble  family,  none  of  whom  ever  declined  from  the  high 
rank  to  which,  as  far  as  my  pen  trenched  on  it,  I  now  beg 
leave  to  restore  them.  The  name  of  the  person  who  figures  as 
deputy  of  Soleure  in  these  pages  was  always,  it  seems,  as  it  is 


▼iii  INTRODUCTION  TO 

now,  that  of  a  patrician  house.  I  am  reminded  hy  the  same 
correspondent  of  another  slip,  probably  of  less  consequence. 
The  Emperor  of  the  days  my  novel  refers  to,  though  the  rep- 
resentative of  that  Leopold  who  fell  in  the  great  battle  of  Sem- 
pach,  never  set  up  any  pretensions  against  the  liberties  of 
the  gallant  Swiss,  but,  on  the  contrary,  treated  with  uniform 
prudence  and  forbearance  such  of  that  nation  as  had  established 
their  independence,  and  with  wise,  as  well  as  generous,  kindness 
others  who  still  continued  to  acknowledge  fealty  to  the  imperial 
crown.  Errors  of  this  sort,  however  trivial,  ought  never,  in  my 
opinion,  to  be  pointed  out  to  an  author  without  meeting  with  a 
candid  and  respectful  acknowledgment. 

With  regard  to  a  general  subject  of  great  curiosity  and  in- 
terest, in  the  eyes  at  least  of  all  antiquarian  students,  upon 
which  I  have  touched  at  some  length  in  this  narrative,  I  mean 
the  Vehmic  tribunals  of  Westphalia,  a  name  so  awful  in  men's 
ears  during  many  centuries,  and  which,  through  the  genius  of 
Goethe,  has  again  been  revived  in  public  fancy  with  a  full  share 
of  its  ancient  terrors,  I  am  bound  to  state  my  opinion  that  a 
wholly  new  and  most  important  light  has  been  thrown  upon 
this  matter  since  Anne  of  Geier stein  first  appeared,  by  the  elabo- 
rate researches  of  my  ingenious  friend,  Mr.  Francis  Palgrave,  ^ 
whose  proof-sheets,  containing  the  passages  I  allude  to,  have 
been  kindly  forwarded  to  me,  and  whose  complete  work  will  be  be- 
fore the  public  ere  this  Introduction  can  pass  through  the  press. 

In  Grermany,  says  this  very  learned  writer,  there  existed  a  singular 
jurisdiction,  which  claimed  a  direct  desceTitfrom  the  pagan  policy  and  mystic 
ritital  of  the  earliest  Teutons. 

We  learn  from  the  historians  of  Saxony,  that  the  freyfeldgericht  [or 
Free  Field  Court]  of  Corbey  was,  in  pagan  times,  under  the  supremacy  of 
the  priests  of  the  Eresburgh,  the  temple  which  contained  the  Irminsule, 
or  pillar  of  Irmin.  After  the  conversion  of  the  people,  the  possessions  of 
the  temple  were  conferred  by  Louis  the  Pious  upon  the  abbey  which  arose 
upon  its  site.  The  court  was  composed  of  sixteen  persons,  who  held  their 
offices  for  life.  The  senior  member  presided  as  the  gerefa  or  graff;  the 
junior  performed  the  humbler  duties  of  frohner^  or  summoner ;  the  re- 
maining fourteen  acted  as  the  6chevins,  and  by  them  all  judgments  were 
pronounced  or  declared.  When  any  of  these  died,  a  new  member  was 
elected  by  the  priests,  from  amongst  the  twenty-two  septs  or  families  in- 
habiting the  gau  or  distiict,  and  who  included  all  the  hereditary  occu- 
pants of  the  soil.  Afterwards,  the  selection  was  made  by  the  monks,  but 
always  with  the  assent  of  the  gratf  and  of  the  frohner. 

The  seat  of  judgment,  the  icing's  seat,  or  konigsstuhl,  was  always  estab- 
lished on  the  greensward ;  and  we  collect  from  the  context,  that  the 
tribunal  was  also  raised  or  appointed  in  the  common  fields  of  the  gau,  for 

*  Now  Sir  Francis  Palgrave. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  « 

tli«  purpose  of  deciding  disputes  relating  to  the  land  within  its  precinct. 
Such  a  '  king's  seat '  was  a  plot  sixteen  feet  in  length  and  sixteen  feet  in 
breadth  ;  and  when  the  ground  was  first  consecrated,  the  frohner  dug  a 
grave  in  the  centre,  into  which  each  of  the  free  echevins  threw  a  handful 
of  ashes,  a  coal,  and  a  tile.  If  any  doubt  arose  whether  a  place  of  judg- 
ment had  been  duly  hallowed,  the  judges  sought  for  the  tokens.  If  they 
were  not  found,  then  all  the  judgments  which  had  been  given  became  null 
and  void.  It  was  also  of  the  very  essence  of  the  court,  that  it  should  be 
held  beneath  the  sky,  and  by  the  light  of  the  sun.  All  the  ancient 
Teutonic  judicial  assemblies  were  held  in  the  open  air ;  but  some  relics  of 
solar  worship  may  perhaps  be  traced  in  the  usage  and  in  the  language  of 
this  tribunal.  The  forms  adopted  in  the  Free  Field  Court  also  betray  a 
singular  affinity  to  the  doctrines  of  the  British  bards  respecting  their 
gorseddau,  or  conventions,  which  were  '  always  held  in  the  open  air,  in  the 
eye  of  the  light,  and  in  face  of  the  sun.'  ^ 

When  a  criminal  was  to  be  judged,  or  a  cause  to  be  decided,  the  graff 
and  the  free  echevins  assembled  around  the  konigsstuhl ;  and  the  frohner, 
having  proclaimed  silence,  opened  the  proceedings  by  reciting  the  following 
rhymes : 

Sir  graflF,  with  permission, 
I  beg  you  to  say, 

According  to  law,  and  without  delay, 
If  I,  your  knave. 
Who  judgment  crave, 

With  your  good  grace. 

Upon  the  king's  seat  this  seat  may  place 

To  this  address  the  graflf  replied  : 

While  the  sun  shines  with  even  light 
Upon  masters  and  knaves,  I  shall  declare 
The  law  of  might,  according  to  right. 
Place  the  king's  seat  true  and  square, 
Let  even  measure,  for  justice'  sake, 
Be  given  in  sight  of  God  and  man, 
That  the  plaintiff  his  complaint  may  make. 
And  the  defendant  answer,  — if  he  can. 

In  conformity  to  this  permission,  the  frohner  placed  the  seat  of  judgment 
in  the  middle  of  the  plot,  and  then  he  spake  for  the  second  time ; 

Sir  graff,  master  brave, 
I  remind  you  of  your  honour,  here. 
And  moreover  that  I  am  your  knave  ; 
Tell  me,  therefore,  for  law  sincere, 
If  these  mete-wands  are  even  and  sure. 
Fit  for  the  rich  and  fit  for  the  poor, 
Both  to  measure  land  and  condition  ; 
Tell  me  as  you  would  eschew  perdition. 

And  80  speaking,  he  laid  the  mete-wand  on  the  ground.  The  graff  then 
began  to  try  the  measure,  by  placing  his  right  foot  against  the  wand,  and 
he  was  followed  by  the  other  free  echevins  in  rank  and  order,  according  to 
seniority.  The  length  of  the  mete-wand  being  thus  proved,  the  frohner 
spake  for  the  third  time : 

1  Owen  Pugh's  Elegies  of  Lewarch  Hen,  Fret.,  p.  46.  The  place  of  these 
meetings  was  set  apart  by  forming  a  circle  of  stones  round  the  maen  (ior- 
sedd,  or  stone  of  the  Gorsedd. 


X  INTRODUCTION  TO 

Sir  graff,  I  ask  by  permission, 
If  I,  with  your  mete-wand  may  met« 
Openly,  and  without  displeasure, 
Here  the  king's  free  judgment  seat  ? 

And  the  graflF  replied  : 

I  permit  ri^ht. 

And  I  forbid  wrong. 

Under  the  pains  and  penalties 

That  to  the  old  known  laws  belong. 

Now  was  the  time  of  measuring  the  mystic  plot ;  it  was  measured  by  the 
mete-wand  along  and  athwart,  and  when  the  dimensions  were  found  to  be 
true,  the  gratf  placed  himself  in  the  seat  of  judgment,  and  gave  the  charge 
to  the  assembled  free  echevins,  warning  them  to  pronounce  judgment 
according  to  right  and  justice. 

On  this  day,  with  common  consent, 

And  under  the  clear  firmament, 

A  free  field  court  is  established  here, 

In  the  open  eye  of  day  ; 

Enter  soberly,  ye  who  may. 

The  seat  in  its  place  is  pight, 

The  mete-wand  is  found  to  be  right ; 

Declare  your  judgments  without  delay  : 

And  let  the  doom  be  truly  given, 

Whilst  yet  the  sun  shines  bright  in  heaven. 

Judgment  was  given  by  the  free  Echevins  according  to  plurality  of  voices. 

After  observing  that  the  Author  of  Anne  of  Geierstein  had, 
by  what  he  calls  a  *  very  excusable  poetical  license,'  transferred 
something  of  these  judicial  rhymes  from  the  Free  Field  Court 
of  the  abbey  of  Corbey  to  the  free  Vehmic  tribunals  of  West- 
phalia, Mr.  Palgrave  proceeds  to  correct  many  vulgar  errors,  in 
which  the  novel  he  remarks  on  no  doubt  had  shared,  with 
respect  to  the  actual  constitution  of  those  last  named  courts. 
'  The  protocols  of  their  proceedings,'  he  says,  *  do  not  altogether 
realise  the  popular  idea  of  their  terrors  and  tyranny.'  It  may 
be  allowed  to  me  to  question  whether  the  mere  protocols  of 
such  tribunals  are  quite  enough  to  annul  all  the  import  of 
tradition  respecting  them ;  but  in  the  following  details  there 
is  no  doubt  much  that  will  instruct  the  antiquarian,  as  well  as 
amuse  the  popular  reader :  — 

The  court,  says  Mr.  Palgrave,  was  held  with  known  and  notorious 
publicity  beneath  the  *  eye  of  light '  ;  and  the  sentences,  though  speedy  and 
severe,  were  founded  \\\x>n  a  regular  system  of  established  jurispruaence,  not 
so  strange,  even  to  England,  as  it  may  at  first  sight  appear. 

Westphalia,  according  to  its  ancient  constitution,  was  divided  into 
districts  called  frtygra£achaftcn^   each  of  which  usually  contained  one. 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  xi 

and  sometimes  many,  Vehmic  tribunals,  whose  boundaries  were  accurately 
defined.  The  right  of  the  stuhlherr,  or  lord,  was  of  a  feudal  nature,  and 
could  be  transferred  by  the  ordinary  modes  of  alienation  ;  and  if  the  lord 
did  not  choose  to  act  in  his  own  person,  he  nominated  a  freigraff  to 
execute  the  office  in  his  stead.  The  court  itself  was  composed  oi  frey- 
schoppfen,  scabini,  or  echevins,  nominated  by  the  graflF,  and  who  were 
divided  into  two  classes:  the  ordinary  and  the  wissenden  or  'witan,' 
who  were  admitted  under  a  strict  and  singular  bond  of  secrecy. 

The  initiation  of  these,  the  participators  in  all  the  mysteries  of  the  tri- 
bunal, could  only  take  place  upon  the  'red  earth,'  or  within  the  limits 
of  the  ancient  duchy  of  Westphalia.  Bareheaded  and  ungirt,  the  candidate 
is  conducted  before  the  dread  tribunal.  He  is  interrogated  as  to  his  quali- 
fications, or  rather  as  to  the  absence  of  any  disqualification.  He  must  be 
free  bom,  a  Teuton,  and  clear  of  any  accusation  cognisable  by  the  tribunal 
of  which  he  is  to  become  a  member.  If  the  answers  are  satisfactory,  he 
then  takes  the  oath,  swearing  by  the  Holy  Law  that  he  will  conceal  the 
secrets  of  the  Holy  Vehme  from  wife  and  child,  from  father  and  mother, 
from  sister  and  brother,  from  fire  and  water,  from  every  creature  upon 
which  the  sun  shines,  or  upon  which  the  rain  falls,  from  every  being  be- 
tween earth  and  heaven. 

Another  clause  relates  to  his  active  duties.  He  further  swears,  that  he 
will  'say  forth'  to  the  tribunal  all  crimes  or  offences  which  fall  beneath 
the  secret  ban  of  the  Emperor,  which  he  knows  to  be  true,  or  which  he 
has  heard  from  trustworthy  report  ;  and  that  he  will  not  forbear  to  do  so, 
for  love  nor  for  loathing,  for  gold  nor  for  silver  nor  precious  stones.  This 
oath  being  imposed  upon  him,  the  new  freischopff  was  then  intrusted 
with  the  secrets  of  the  Vehmic  tribunal.  He  received  the  password  by 
which  he  was  to  know  his  fellows,  and  the  grip  or  sign  by  which  they 
recognised  each  other  in  silence ;  and  he  was  warned  of  the  terrible 
punishment  awaiting  the  perjured  brother.  —  If  he  discloses  the  secrets  of 
the  court,  he  is  to  expect  that  he  will  be  suddenly  seized  by  the  ministers 
of  vengeance.  His  eyes  are  bound,  he  is  cast  down  on  the  soil,  his  tongue 
is  torn  out  through  the  back  of  his  neck,  and  he  is  then  to  be  hanged 
seven  times  higher  than  any  other  criminal.  And,  whether  restrained  by 
the  fear  of  punishment  or  by  the  stronger  ties  of  mystery,  no  instance 
was  ever  known  of  any  violation  of  the  secrets  of  the  tribunal. 

Thus  connected  by  an  invisible  bond,  the  members  of  the  Holy  Vehme 
became  extremely  numerous.  In  the  14th  century,  the  league  contained 
upwards  of  one  hundred  thousand  members.  Persons  of  everj'  rank  sought 
to  be  associated  to  this  powerful  community,  and  to  participate  in  the 
immunities  which  the  brethren  possessed.  Princes  were  eager  to  allow 
their  ministers  to  become  the  members  of  this  mysterious  and  holy  alliance  ; 
and  the  cities  of  the  Empire  were  equally  anxious  to  enrol  their  magistrates 
in  the  Vehmic  union. 

The  supreme  government  of  the  Vehmic  tribunals  was  vested  in  the 
great  or  general  chapter,  composed  of  the  freegraves  and  all  the  other 
initiated  members,  high  and  low.  Over  this  assembly  the  Emperor  might 
preside  in  person,  but  more  usually  by  his  deputy,  the  stadtholder  of  the 
ancient  duchy  of  Westphalia—  an  office  which,  after  the  fall  of  Henry  the 
Lion,  Duke  of  Brunswick,  was  annexed  to  the  archbishopric  of  Cologne. 

Before  the  general  chapter,  all  the  members  were  liable  to  account  for 
their  acts.  And  it  appears  that  the  freegraves  reported  the  proceedings 
which  had  taken  place  within  their  jurisdictions  in  the  course  of  the  year. 


xii  INTRODUCTION  TO 

Unworthy  members  were  expelled,  or  sustained  a  severe  punishment. 
Statutes,  or  *  reformations,'  as  they  were  called,  were  here  enacted  for 
the  regulation  of  the  courts,  and  the  amendment  of  any  abuses ;  and  new 
and  unforeseen  cases,  for  which  the  existing  laws  did  not  provide  a  remedy, 
received  their  determination  in  the  Vehmic  Parliament. 

As  the  echevins  were  of  two  classes,  uninitiated  and  initiated,  so  the 
Vehmic  courts  had  also  a  twofold  character  :  the  offenhare  ding  was  an  open 
court  or  folkmoot ;  but  the  heimliche  dcht  was  the  far-famed  secret  tribunal. 

The  first  was  held  three  times  in  each  year.  According  to  the  ancient 
Teutonic  usage,  it  usually  assembled  on  Tuesday,  anciently  called  dings- 
tag,  or  court-day,  as  well  as  diensttag^  or  serving-day,  the  first  open  or 
working  day  after  the  two  great  weekly  festivals  of  sun-day  and  moon-day. 
Here  afi  the  householders  of  the  district,  whether  free  or  bond,  attended 
as  suitors.  The  otfenbare  ding  exercised  a  civil  jurisdiction  ;  and  in  this 
folkmoot  appeared  any  complainant  or  appellant  who  sought  to  obtain 
the  aid  of  the  Vehmic  tribunal,  in  those  cases  when  it  did  not  possess 
that  summary  jurisdiction  from  which  it  has  obtained  such  fearful  celebrity. 
Here  also  the  suitors  of  the  district  made  presentments  or  turoge,  as  they 
are  termed,  of  any  offences  committed  within  their  knowledge,  and  which 
were  to  be  punished  by  the  graff"  and  echevins. 

The  criminal  jurisdiction  of  the  Vehmic  tribunal  took  the  widest  range. 
The  Vehme  could  punish  mere  slander  and  contumely.  Any  violation  of 
the  Ten  Commandments  was  to  be  restrained  by  the  echevins.  Secret 
crimes,  not  to  be  proved  by  the  ordinary  testimony  of  witnesses,  such  as 
magic,  witchcraft,  and  poison,  were  particularly  to  be  restrained  by  the 
Vehmic  judges ;  and  they  sometimes  designated  their  jurisdiction  as  com- 
prehending every  offence  against  the  honour  of  man  or  the  precepts  of 
religion.  Such  a  definition,  if  definition  it  can  be  called,  evidently  aUowed 
them  to  bring  every  action  of  which  an  individual  might  complain  within 
the  scope  of  their  tribunals.  The  forcible  usurpation  of  land  became  an 
oflfence  against  the  Vehme.  And  if  the  property  of  an  humble  individual 
was  occupied  by  the  proud  burghers  of  the  Hanse,  the  power  of  the 
defendants  might  afford  a  reasonable  excuse  for  the  interference  of  the 
Vehmic  power. 

The  echevins,  as  conservatore  of  the  ban  of  the  Empire,  were  bound  to 
make  constant  circuits  within  their  districts,  by  night  and  by  day.  If 
they  could  apprehend  a  thief,  a  murderer,  or  the  perpetrator  of  any  other 
heinous  crime  in  possession  of  the  mainour,  or  in  the  very  act,  or  if  his 
own  mouth  confessed  the  deed,  they  hung  him  upon  the  next  tree.  But 
to  render  this  execution  legal,  the  following  requisites  were  necessary: 
fresh  suit,  or  the  apprehension  and  execution  of  the  offender  before  day- 
break or  nightfall  ;  the  visible  evidence  of  the  crime ;  and  lastly,  that 
three  echevins,  at  least,  should  seize  the  offender,  testify  against  him,  and 
judge  of  the  recent  deed. 

If,  without  any  certain  accuser,  and  without  the  indication  of  crime, 
an  individual  was  strongly  and  vehemently  suspected,  or  when  the  nature 
of  the  offence  was  such  as  that  its  proof  could  only  rest  upon  opinion  and 
presumption,  the  offender  then  became  subject  to  what  the  German  jurists 
term  the  inquisitorial  proceeding :  it  became  the  duty  of  the  echevin  to 
denounce  the  leumund,  or  manifest  evil  fame,  to  the  secret  tribunal.  If 
the  Echevins  and  the  freygraff"  were  satisfied  with  the  presentment,  either 
from  their  own  knowledge  or  from  the  information  of  their  compeer,  the 
offender  was  said  to  be  ver/ambt  —  his  life  was  forfeited ;  and  wherever  he 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  xiii 

was  found  by  the  brethren  of  the  tribunal,  they  executed  him  without  the 
slightest  delay  or  mercy.  An  offender  who  had  escaped  from  the  echevins 
was  liable  to  the  same  punishment ;  and  such  also  was  the  doom  of  the 
party  who,  after  having  been  summoned  pursuant  to  an  appeal  preferred 
in  open  court,  made  default  in  appearing.  But  one  of  the  wissenden  was 
in  no  respect  liable  to  the  summary  process  or  to  the  inquisitorial  proceed- 
ing, unless  he  had  revealed  the  secrets  of  the  court.  He  was  presumed 
to  be  a  true  man  ;  and  if  accused  upon  vehement  suspicion,  or  leumund, 
the  same  presumption  or  evil  repute  which  was  fatal  to  the  uninitiated 
might  be  entirely  rebutted  by  the  compurgatory  oath  of  the  free  echevin. 
If  a  party,  accused  by  appeal,  did  not  shun  investigation,  he  appeared  in 
the  open  court,  and  defended  himself  according  to  the  ordinary  rules  of 
law.  If  he  absconded,  or  if  the  evidence  or  presumptions  were  against 
him,  the  accusation  then  came  before  the  judges  of  the  secret  court,  who 
pronounced  the  doom.  The  accusatorial  process,  as  it  was  termed,  was 
also,  in  many  cases,  brought  in  the  first  instance  before  the  heimliche  acht. 
Proceeding  upon  the  examination  of  witnesses,  it  possessed  no  peculiar 
character,  and  its  forms  were  those  of  the  ordinary  courts  of  justice.  It 
was  only  in  this  manner  that  one  of  the  wissenden  or  witan  could  be  tried  ; 
and  the  privilege  of  being  exempted  from  the  summary  process,  or  from 
the  effects  of  the  leumund,  appears  to  have  been  one  of  the  reasons  which 
induced  so  many  of  those  who  did  not  tread  the  '  red  earth '  to  seek  to  be 
included  in  the  Vehmic  bond. 

There  was  no  mystery  in  the  assembly  of  the  heimliche  acht.  Under 
the  oak,  or  under  the  lime-tree,  the  judges  assembled  in  broad  daylight, 
and  before  the  eye  of  heaven  ;  but  the  tribunal  derived  its  name  from  the 
precautions  which  were  taken  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  any  disclosure 
of  its  proceedings  which  might  enable  the  offender  to  escape  the  venge- 
ance of  the  Vehme.  Hence  the  fearful  oath  of  secrecy  which  bound  the 
echevins.  And  if  any  stranger  was  found  present  in  the  court,  the  unlucky 
intruder  instantly  forfeited  his  life  as  a  punishment  for  his  temerity.  If 
the  presentment  or  denunciation  did  chance  to  become  known  to  the 
offender,  the  law  allowed  him  a  right  to  appeal.  But  the  permission  was 
of  very  little  utility,  it  was  a  profitless  boon,  for  the  Vehmic  judges  always 
laboured  to  conceal  the  judgment  from  the  hapless  criminal,  who  seldom 
was  aware  of  his  sentence  until  his  neck  was  encircled  by  the  halter. 

Charlemagne,  according  to  the  traditions  of  Westphalia,  was  the  founder 
of  the  Vehmic  tribunal  ;  and  it  was  supposed  that  he  instituted  the  court 
for  the  purpose  of  coercing  the  Saxons,  ever  ready  to  relapse  into  the  idol- 
atry from  which  they  had  been  reclaimed,  not  by  persuasion,  but  by  the 
sword.  This  opinion,  however,  is  not  confirmed  either  by  documentary 
evidence  or  by  contemporary  historians.  And  if  we  examine  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Vehmic  tribunal,  we  shall  see  that,  in  principle,  it  differs  in 
no  essential  character  from  the  summary  jurisdiction  exercised  in  the  town- 
ships and  hundreds  of  Anglo-Saxon  England.  Amongst  us,  the  thief  or 
the  robber  was  equally  liable  to  summary  punishment,  if  apprehended  by 
the  men  of  the  township;  and  the  same  rules  disqualified  them  from 
proceeding  to  summary  execution.  An  English  outlaw  was  exactly  in  the 
situation  of  him  who  had  escaped  from  the  hands  of  the  echevins,  or  who 
had  failed  to  appear  before  the  Vehmic  court :  he  was  condemned  unheard, 
nor  was  he  confronted  with  his  accusers.  The  inquisitorial  proceedings,  as 
they  are  termed  by  the  German  jurists,  are  identical  with  our  ancient  pre- 
sentments.    Presumptions  are  substituted  for  proofs,  and  general  opinion 


3dv  INTRODUCTION  TO 

holds  the  place  of  a  responsible  accuser.  He  who  was  untru*  to  all  the 
people  in  the  Saxon  age,  or  liable  to  the  malecredence  of  the  inquest  at  a 
suteequent  period,  was  scarcely  more  fortunate  than  he  who  was  branded 
as  leumund  by  the  Vehmic  law. 

In  cases  of  open  delict  and  of  outlawry,  there  was  substantially  no 
diflference  whatever  between  the  English  and  the  Vehmic  proceedings. 
But  in  4;he  inquisitorial  process,  the  delinquent  was  allowed,  according  to 
our  older  code,  to  run  the  risk  of  the  ordeal.  He  was  accused  by  or  before 
the  hundred,  or  the  thanes  of  the  wapentake  ;  and  his  own  oath  cleared 
him,  if  a  true  man ;  but  he  '  bore  the  iron '  if  unable  to  avail  himself  of 
the  credit  derived  from  a  good  and  fair  reputation.  The  same  course  may 
have  been  originally  adopted  in  Westphalia  ;  for  the  wissend,  when  accused, 
could  exculpate  himself  by  his  compurgatory  oath,  being  presumed  to  be 
of  good  fame  ;  and  it  is,  therefore,  probable  that  an  uninitiated  offender, 
standing  a  stage  lower  in  character  and  credibility,  was  allowed  the  last 
resort  of  the  ordeal.  But  when  the  'judgment  of  God'  was  abolished  by 
the  decrees  of  the  Church,  it  did  not  occur  to  the  Vehmic  judges  to  put 
the  offender  upon  his  second  trial  by  the  visne,  which  now  forms  the  dis- 
tinguishing characteristic  of  the  English  law,  and  he  was  at  once  considered 
as  condemned.  The  heimliche  acht  is  a  presentment  not  traversable  by 
the  offender. 

The  Vehmic  tribunals  can  only  he  considered  as  the  original  jurisdictions 
of  the  Old  Saxons,  which  survived  the  subjugation  of  their  country.  The 
singular  and  mystic  forms  of  initiation,  the  system  of  enigmatical  phrases, 
the  use  of  the  signs  and  symbols  of  recognition,  may  -probahly  be  ascribed  to 
tlie  period  when  the  whole  system  was  united  to  the  worship  of  the  deities  of 
veTigeance,  and  when,  the  sentence  was  promulgated  by  the  doomsmen,  as- 
sembled, like  the  Asi  of  old,  before  the  altars  of  Thor  or  Woden.  Of  this 
connexion  with  ancient  pagan  policy,  so  clearly  to  be  traced  in  the  Ice- 
landic courts,  the  English  territorial  jurisdictions  offer  some  very  faint 
vestiges ;  but  the  mystery  had  long  been  dispersed,  and  the  whole  system 
passed  into  the  ordinary  machinery  of  the  law. 

As  to  the  Vehmic  tribunals,  it  is  acknowledged  that,  in  a  truly  barbar- 
ous age  and  country,  their  proceedings,  however  violent,  were  not  without 
utility.  Their  severe  and  secret  vengeance  often  deterred  the  rapacity  of 
the  noble  robber,  and  protected  the  humble  suppliant ;  the  extent,  and 
even  the  abuse,  of  their  authority  was  in  some  measure  justified  in  an 
Empire  divided  into  numerous  independent  jurisdictions,  and  not  subjected 
to  any  pammount  tribunal,  able  to  administer  impartial  justice  to  the 
oppressed.  But  as  the  times  improved,  the  Vehmic  tribunals  degenerated. 
The  ^chevins,  chosen  from  the  inferior  ranks,  did  not  possess  any  personal 
consideration.  Opposed  by  the  opulent  cities  of  the  Hanse,  and  objects  of 
the  suspicion  and  the  enmity  of  the  powerful  aristocracy,  the  tribunals  of 
some  districts  were  abolished  by  law,  and  others  took  the  form  of  ordinary 
territorial  jurisdictions  ;  the  gi'eater  number  fell  into  desuetude.  Yet  as 
late  as  the  middle  of  the  18th  century,  a  few  Vehmic  tribunals  existed 
in  name,  though,  as  it  may  be  easily  supposed,  without  possessing  any 
remnant  of  their  pristine  power.  —  Palorave  on  the  Rise  and  Progress  of 
the  English  Commonwealth :  Proofs  and  Illustrations,  p.  157. 

I  have  marked  by  italic  letters  the  most  important  passage 
of  the  above  quotation.  The  view  it  contains  seems  to  me  to 
have  every  appearance  of  truth  and  justice ;  and  if  such  should, 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  xv 

on  maturer  investigation,  turn  out  to  be  the  fact,  it  will  certainly 
confer  no  small  honour  on  an  English  scholar  to  have  discovered 
the  key  to  a  mystery  which  had  long  exercised  in  vain  the 
laborious  and  profound  students  of  German  antiquity. 

There  are  probably  several  other  points  on  which  I  ought  to 
have  embraced  this  opportunity  of  enlarging  ;  but  the  necessity 
of  preparing  for  an  excursion  to  foreign  countries,  in  quest  of 
health  and  strength,  that  have  been  for  some  time  sinking, 
makes  me  cut  short  my  address  upon  the  present  occasion. 

Although  I  had  never  been  in  Switzerland,  and  numerous 
mistakes  must  of  course  have  occurred  in  my  attempts  to 
describe  the  local  scenery  of  that  romantic  region,  I  must  not 
conclude  without  a  statement  highly  gratifying  to  myself,  that 
the  work  met  with  a  reception  of  more  than  usual  cordiality 
among  the  descendants  of  the  Alpine  heroes  whose  manners  I 
had  ventured  to  treat  of;  and  I  have  in  particular  to  express 
my  thanks  to  the  several  Swiss  gentlemen  who  have,  since  the 
novel  was  published,  enriched  my  little  collection  of  armour  with 
specimens  of  the  huge  weapon  that  sheared  the  lances  of  the 
Austrian  chivalry  at  Sempach,  and  was  employed  with  equal 
success  on  the  bloody  days  of  Granson  and  Morat.  Of  the 
ancient  double-handed  espadons  of  the  Switzer,  I  have,  in  this 
way,  received,  I  think,  not  less  than  six,  in  excellent  preserva- 
tion, from  as  many  different  individuals,  who  thus  testified 
their  general  approbation  of  these  pages.  They  are  not  the  less 
interesting,  that  gigantic  swords  of  nearly  the  same  pattern 
and  dimensions  were  employed,  in  their  conflicts  with  the  bold 
knights  and  men-at-arms  of  England,  by  "Wallace  and  the 
sturdy  foot-soldiers  who,  under  his  guidance,  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  Scottish  independence. 

The  reader  who  wishes  to  examine  with  attention  the  historical 
events  of  the  period  which  the  novel  embraces,  will  find  ample 
means  of  doing  so  in  the  valuable  works  of  Zschokke  and 
M.  de  Barante  —  which  last  author's  account  of  the  Dukes  of 
Burgundy  is  among  the  most  valuable  of  recent  accessions  of 
European  literature  —  and  in  the  new  Parisian  edition  of  Frois- 
sart,  which  has  not  as  yet  attracted  so  much  attention  in  this 
country  as  it  well  deserves  to  do.  W.  S. 

Abbotsford,  Sept.  17,  1831. 


ANNE    OF    OEIERSTEIN 

OR  THE  MAIDEN   OF  THE  MIST 
CHAPTER  I 

The  mists  boil  up  around  the  glaciers  ;  clouds 
Rise  curling  fast  beneath  nie,  white  and  sulphurous, 
Like  foam  from  the  roused  ocean. 

I  am  giddy. 

Manfred. 

THE  course  of  four  centuries  has  wellnigh  elapsed  since 
the  series  of  events  which  are  related  in  the  following 
chapters  took  place  on  the  Continent.  The  records 
which  contained  the  outlines  of  the  history,  and  might  be  re- 
ferred to  as  proof  of  its  veracity,  were  long  preserved  in  the 
superb  library  of  the  monastery  of  St.  Gall,  but  perished,  with 
many  of  the  literary  treasures  of  that  establishment,  when  the 
convent  was  plundered  by  the  French  revolutionary  armies. 
The  events  are  fixed,  by  historical  date,  to  the  middle  of  the 
15th  century  —  that  important  period  when  chivalry  still  shone 
with  a  setting  ray,  soon  about  to  be  totally  obscured,  in  some 
countries  by  the  establishment  of  free  institutions,  in  others  by 
that  of  arbitrary  power,  which. alike  rendered  useless  the  inter- 
ference of  those  self-endowed  redressers  of  wrongs  whose  only 
warrant  of  authority  was  the  sword. 

Amid  the  general  light  which  had  recently  shone  upon 
Europe,  France,  Burgundy,  and  Italy,  but  more  especially 
Austria,  had  been  made  acquainted  with  the  character  of  a 
people  of  whose  very  existence  they  had  before  been  scarcely 
conscious.     It  is  true  that  the  inhabitants  of  those  countries 

VOL.  XXIII  —  1 


2  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

which  lie  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Alps,  that  immense  barrier, 
were  not  ignorant,  that,  notwithstanding  their  rugged  and 
desolate  appearance,  the  secluded  valleys  which  winded  among 
those  gigantic  mountains  nourished  a  race  of  hunters  and 
shepherds — men  who,  living  in  a  state  of  primeval  simplicity, 
compelled  from  the  soil  a  subsistence  gained  by  severe  labour, 
followed  the  chase  over  the  most  savage  precipices  and  through 
the  darkest  pine  forests,  or  drove  their  cattle  to  spots  which 
afforded  them  a  scanty  pasturage,  even  in  the  vicinage  of 
eternal  snows.  But  the  existence  of  such  a  people,  or  rather  of 
a  number  of  small  communities  who  followed  nearly  the  same 
poor  and  hardy  course  of  life,  had  seemed  to  the  rich  and 
powerful  princes  in  the  neighbourhood  a  matter  of  as  little 
consequence  as  it  is  to  the  stately  herds  which  repose  in  a 
fertile  meadow  that  a  few  half-starved  goats  find  their  scanty 
food  among  the  rocks  which  overlook  their  rich  domain. 

But  wonder  and  attention  began  to  be  attracted  towards 
these  mountaineers  about  the  middle  of  the  14th  century,  when 
reports  were  spread  abroad  of  severe  contests,  in  which  the 
German  chivalry,  endeavouring  to  suppress  insurrections  among 
their  Alpine  vassals,  had  sustained  repeated  and  bloody  defeats, 
although  having  on  their  side  numbers  and  discipline,  and  the 
advantage  of  the  most  perfect  military  equipment  then  known 
and  confided  in.  Great  was  the  wonder  that  cavalry,  which 
made  the  only  efiicient  part  of  the  feudal  armies  of  these  ages, 
should  be  routed  by  men  on  foot ;  that  warriors  sheathed  in 
complete  steel  should  be  overpowered  by  naked  peasants  who 
wore  no  defensive  armour,  and  were  irregularly  provided  with 
pikes,  halberds,  and  clubs,  for  the  purpose  of  attack ;  above  all, 
it  seemed  a  species  of  miracle  that  knights  and  nobles  of  the 
highest  birth  should  be  defeated  by  mountaineers  and  shep- 
herds. But  the  repeated  victories  of  the  Swiss  at  Laupen, 
Sempach,  and  on  other  less  distinguished  occasions,  plainly 
intimated  that  a  new  principle  of  civil  organisation,  as  well  as 
of  military  movements,  had  arisen  amid  the  stormy  regions  of 
Helvetia. 

Still,  although  the  decisive  victories  which  obtained  liberty 
for  the  Swiss  cantons,  as  well  as  the  spirit  of  resolution  and 
wisdom  with  which  the  members  of  the  little  confederation  had 
maintained  themselves  against  the  utmost  exertions  of  Austria, 
had  spread  their  fame  abroad  through  all  the  neighbouring 
countries,  and  although  they  themselves  were  conscious  of 
the  character  and  actual  power  which  repeated  victories  had 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  3 

acquired  for  themselves  and  their  country,  yet  down  to  the 
middle  of  the  15th  century,  and  at  a  later  date,  the  Swiss 
retained  in  a  great  measure  the  wisdom,  moderation,  and  sim- 
plicity of  their  ancient  manners ;  so  much  so,  that  those  who 
were  entrusted  with  the  command  of  the  troops  of  the  republic 
in  battle  were  wont  to  resume  the  shepherd's  staff  when  they 
laid  down  the  truncheon,  and,  like  the  Roman  dictators,  to 
retire  to  complete  equality  with  their  fellow-citizens  from  the 
eminence  of  military  command  to  which  their  talents,  and  the 
call  of  their  country,  had  raised  them. 

It  is,  then,  in  the  Forest  Cantons  of  Switzerland,  in  the 
autumn  of  1474,  while  these  districts  were  in  the  rude  and 
simple  state  we  have  described,  that  our  tale  opens. 


Two  travellers,  one  considerably  past  the  prime  of  life,  the 
other  probably  two  or  three  and  twenty  years  old,  had  passed 
the  night  at  the  little  town  of  Lucerne,  the  capital  of  the  Swiss 
state  of  the  same  name,  and  beautifully  situated  on  the  Lake  of 
the  Four  Cantons.  Their  dress  and  character  seemed  those  of 
merchants  of  a  higher  class,  and  while  they  themselves  journeyed 
on  foot,  the  character  of  the  country  rendering  that  by  far  the 
most  easy  mode  of  pursuing  their  route,  a  young  peasant  lad, 
from  the  Italian  side  of  the  Alps,  followed  them  with  a  sumpter 
mule,  laden  apparently  with  men's  wares  and  baggage,  which 
he  sometimes  mounted,  but  more  frequently  led  by  the  bridle. 

The  travellers  were  uncommonly  fine-looking  men,  and 
seemed  connected  by  some  very  near  relationship  —  probably 
that  of  father  and  son ;  for  at  the  little  inn  where  they  lodged 
on  the  preceding  evening  the  great  deference  and  respect  paid 
by  the  younger  to  the  elder  had  not  escaped  the  observation  of 
the  natives,  who,  like  other  sequestered  beings,  were  curious  in 
proportion  to  the  limited  means  of  information  which  they 
possessed.  They  observed  also  that  the  merchants,  under  pre- 
tence of  haste,  declined  opening  their  bales  or  proposing  traffic 
to  the  inhabitants  of  Lucerne,  alleging  in  excuse  that  they  had 
no  commodities  fitted  for  the  market.  The  females  of  the 
town  were  the  more  displeased  with  the  reserve  of  the  mercan- 
tile travellers,  because  they  were  given  to  understand  that  it 
was  occasioned  by  the  wares  in  which  they  dealt  being  too 
costly  to  find  customers  among  the  Helvetian  mountains ;  for 


%  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

it  had  transpired^  by  means  of  their  attendant,  that  the 
strangers  had  visited  Venice,  and  had  there  made  many  pur- 
chases of  rich  commodities,  which  were  brought  from  India  and 
Egypt  to  that  celebrated  emporium,  as  to  the  common  mart  of 
the  Western  World,  and  thence  dispersed  into  all  quarters  of 
Europe.  Now  the  Swiss  maidens  had  of  late  made  the  dis- 
covery that  gauds  and  gems  were  fair  to  look  upon,  and,  though 
without  the  hope  of  being  able  to  possess  themselves  of  such 
ornaments,  they  felt  a  natural  desire  to  review  and  handle  the 
rich  stores  of  the  merchants,  and  some  displeasure  at  being 
prevented  from  doing  so. 

It  was  also  observed  that,  though  the  strangers  were 
sufficiently  courteous  in  their  demeanour,  they  did  not  evince 
that  studious  anxiety  to  please  displayed  by  the  travelling 
pedlars  or  merchants  of  Lombardy  or  Savoy,  by  whom  the 
inhabitants  of  the  mountains  were  occasionally  visited;  and 
who  had  been  more  frequent  in  their  rounds  of  late  years, 
since  the  spoils  of  victory  had  invested  the  Swiss  with  some 
wealth,  and  had  taught  many  of  them  new  wants.  Those 
peripatetic  traders  were  civil  and  assiduous,  as  their  calling 
required;  but  the  new  visitors  seemed  men  who  were  in- 
different to  traffic,  or  at  least  to  such  slender  gains  as  could  be 
gathered  in  Switzerland. 

Curiosity  was  further  excited  by  the  circumstance  that  they 
spoke  to  each  other  in  a  language  which  was  certainly  neither 
German,  Italian,  nor  French,  but  from  which  an  old  man 
serving  in  the  cabaret,  who  had  once  been  as  far  as  Paris, 
supposed  they  might  be  English  —  a  people  of  whom  it  was  only 
known  in  these  mountains  that  they  were  a  fierce  insular  race, 
at  war  with  the  French  for  many  years,  and  a  large  body  of 
whom  had  long  since  invaded  the  Forest  Cantons,  and  sustained 
such  a  defeat  in  the  valley  of  Russwyl  as  was  well  remembered 
by  the  grey-haired  men  of  Lucerne,  who  received  the  tale  from 
their  fathers. 

The  lad  who  attended  the  strangers  was  soon  ascertained  to 
be  a  youth  from  the  Grison  country,  who  acted  as  their  guide, 
so  far  as  his  knowledge  of  the  mountains  permitted.  He  said 
they  designed  to  go  to  Bale,  but  seemed  desirous  to  travel  by 
circuitous  and  unfrequented  routes.  The  circumstances  just 
mentioned  increased  the  general  desire  to  know  more  of  the 
travellers  and  of  their  merchandise.  Not  a  bale,  however,  was 
unpacked,  and  the  merchants,  leaving  Lucerne  next  morning, 
resumed  their  toilsome  journey,  preferring  a  circuitous  route 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  5 

and  bad  roads  through  the  peaceful  cantons  of  Switzerland  to 
encountering  the  exactions  and  rapine  of  the  robber  chivalry  of 
Germany,  who,  like  so  many  sovereigns,  made  war  each  at  his 
own  pleasure,  and  levied  tolls  and  taxes  on  every  one  who  passed 
their  domains  of  a  mile's  breadth,  with  all  the  insolence  of 
petty  tyra^miy. 

For  several  hours  after  leaving  Lucerne,  the  journey  of  our 
travellers  was  successfully  prosecuted.  The  road,  though  pre- 
cipitous and  difficult,  was  rendered  interesting  by  those  splendid 
phenomena  which  no  country  exhibits  in  a  more  astonishing 
manner  than  the  mountains  of  Switzerland,  where  the  rocky 
pass,  the  verdant  valley,  the  broad  lake,  and  the  rushing 
torrent,  the  attributes  of  other  hills  as  well  as  these,  are  inter- 
spersed with  the  magnificent  and  yet  fearful  horrors  of  the 
glaciers,  a  feature  peculiar  to  themselves. 

It  was  not  an  age  in  which  the  beauties  or  grandeur  of  a 
landscape  made  much  impression  either  on  the  minds  of  those 
who  travelled  through  the  country  or  who  resided  in  it.  To 
the  latter,  the  objects,  however  dignified,  were  familiar,  and 
associated  with  daily  habits  and  with  daily  toil;  and  the 
former  saw,  perhaps,  more  terror  than  beauty  in  the  wild 
region  through  which  they  passed,  and  were  rather  solicitous 
to  get  safe  to  their  night's  quarters  than  to  comment  on  the 
grandeur  of  the  scenes  which  lay  between  them  and  their  place 
of  rest..  Yet  our  merchants,  as  they  proceeded  on  their  journey, 
could  not  help  being  strongly  impressed  by  the  character  of 
the  scenery  around  them.  Their  road  lay  along  the  side  of 
the  lake,  at  times  level  and  close  on  its  very  margin,  at  times 
rising  to  a  great  height  on  the  side  of  the  mountain,  and 
winding  along  the  verge  of  precipices  which  sunk  down  to  the 
water  as  sharp  and  sheer  as  the  waU  of  a  castle  descending 
upon  the  ditch  which  defends  it.  At  other  times  it  traversed 
spots  of  a  milder  character  —  delightful  green  slopes,  and  lowly 
retired  valleys,  affording  both  pasturage  and  arable  ground, 
sometimes  watered  by  small  streams,  which  winded  by  the 
hamlet  of  wooden  huts  with  their  fantastic  little  church  and 
steeple,  meandered  round  the  orchard  and  the  mount  of  vines, 
and,  murmuring  gently  as  they  flowed,  found  a  quiet  passage 
into  the  lake. 

'  That  stream,  Arthur,'  said  the  elder  traveller,  as  with  one 
consent  they  stopped  to  gaze  on  such  a  scene  as  I  have 
described,  'resembles  the  life  of  a  good  and  a  happy  man.' 

'And  the  brook,  which  hurries  itself  headlong  down  yon 


6  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

distant  hill,  marking  its  course  by  a  streak  of  white  foam,' 
answered  Arthur,  '  what  does  that  resemble  ? ' 

'That  of  a  brave  and  unfortunate  one,'  replied  his  father. 

'  The  torrent  for  me,'  said  Arthur  :  'a  headlong  course  which 
no  human  force  can  oppose,  and  then  let  it  be  as  brief  as  it  is 
glorious.' 

*  It  is  a  young  man's  thought,'  replied  his  father;  *but  I 
am  well  aware  that  it  is  so  rooted  in  thy  heart  that  nothing 
but  the  rude  hand  of  adversity  can  pluck  it  up.' 

'  As  yet  the  root  clings  fast  to  my  heart's  strings,'  said  the 
young  man ;  *  and  methinks  adversity's  hand  hath  had  a  fair 
grasp  of  it.' 

'  You  speak,  my  son,  of  what  you  little  understand,'  said  his 
father.  'Know  that,  till  the  middle  of  life  be  passed,  men 
scarce  distinguish  true  prosperity  from  adversity,  or  rather 
they  court  as  the  favours  of  fortune  what  they  should  more 
justly  regard  as  the  marks  of  her  displeasure.  Look  at  yonder 
mountain,  which  wears  on  its  shaggy  brow  a  diadem  of  clouds, 
now  raised  and  now  depressed,  while  the  sun  glances  upon  but 
is  unable  to  dispel  it ;  a  child  might  believe  it  to  be  a  crown 
of  glory,  a  man  knows  it  to  be  the  signal  of  tempest.' 

Arthur  followed  the  direction  of  his  fiither's  eye  to  the  dark 
and  shadowy  eminence  of  Mount  Pilatre. 

'Is  the  mist  on  yonder  wild  mountain  so  ominous,  then?' 
asked  the  young  man. 

'  Demand  of  Antonio,'  said  his  father ;  *  he  will  teU  you  the 
legend.' 

The  young  merchant  addressed  himself  to  the  Swiss  lad 
who  acted  as  their  attendant,  desiring  to  know  the  name  of 
the  gloomy  height,  which,  in  that  quarter,  seems  the  leviathan 
of  the  huge  congregation  of  mountains  assembled  about 
Lucerne. 

The  lad  crossed  himself  devoutly,  as  he  recounted  the  popular 
legend,  that  the  wicked  Pontius  Pilate,  Proconsul  of  Judea, 
had  here  found  the  termination  of  his  impious  life ;  having, 
affcer  spending  years  in  the  recesses  of  that  mountain  which 
bears  his  name,  at  length,  in  remorse  and  despair  rather  than 
in  penitence,  plunged  into  the  dismal  lake  which  occupies  the 
summit.  Whether  water  refused  to  do  the  executioner's  duty 
upon  such  a  wretch,  or  whether,  his  body  being  drowned,  his 
vexed  spirit  continued  to  haunt  the  place  where  he  committed 
suicide,  Antonio  did  not  pretend  to  explain.  But  a  form  was 
often,  he  said,  seen  to  emerge  from  the  gloomy  waters,  and  go 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  7 

through  the  action  of  one  washing  his  hands;  and  when  he 
did  so,  dark  clouds  of  mist  gathered  first  round  the  bosom  of 
the  Infernal  Lake  (such  it  had  been  styled  of  old),  and  then, 
wrapping  the  whole  upper  part  of  the  mountain  in  darkness, 
presaged  a  tempest  or  hurricane,  which  was  sure  to  follow  in 
a  short  space.  He  added,  that  the  evil  spirit  was  peculiarly- 
exasperated  at  the  audacity  of  such  strangers  as  ascended  the 
mountain  to  gaze  at  his  place  of  punishment,  and  that,  in 
consequence,  the  magistrates  of  Lucerne  had  prohibited  any 
one  from  approaching  Mount  Pilatre,  under  severe  penalties. 
Antonio  once  more  crossed  himself  as  he  finished  his  legend ; 
in  which  act  of  devotion  he  was  imitated  by  his  hearers,  too 
good  Catholics  to  entertain  any  doubt  of  the  truth  of  the 
story. 

'  How  the  accursed  heathen  scowls  upon  us ! '  said  the 
younger  of  the  merchants,  while  the  cloud  darkened  and  seemed 
to  settle  on  the  brow  of  Mount  Pilatre.  '  Vade  retro  —  be  thou 
defied,  sinner ! ' 

A  rising  wind,  rather  heard  than  felt,  seemed  to  groan  forth, 
in  the  tone  of  a  dying  lion,  the  acceptance  of  the  suffering 
spirit  to  the  rash  challenge  of  the  young  Englishman.  The 
mountain  was  seen  to  send  down  its  rugged  sides  thick  wreaths 
of  heaving  mist,  which,  rolling  through  the  rugged  chasms 
that  seamed  the  grisly  hill,  resembled  torrents  of  rushing  lava 
pouring  down  from  a  volcano.  The  ridgy  precipices,  which 
formed  the  sides  of  these  huge  ravines,  showed  their  splintery 
and  rugged  edges  over  the  vapour,  as  if  dividing  from  each 
other  the  descending  streams  of  mist  which  rolled  around 
them.  As  a  strong  contrast  to  this  gloomy  and  threatening 
scene,  the  more  distant  mountain  range  of  Righi  shone  brilliant 
with  all  the  hues  of  an  autumnal  sun. 

While  the  travellers  watched  this  striking  and  varied  con- 
trast, which  resembled  an  approaching  combat  betwixt  the 
powers  of  light  and  darkness,  their  guide,  in  his  mixed  jargon 
of  Italian  and  German,  exhorted  -them  to  make  haste  on  their 
journey.  The  village  to  which  he  proposed  to  conduct  them, 
he  said,  was  yet  distant,  the  road  bad  and  difiicult  to  find,  and 
if  the  Evil  One  (looking  to  Mount  Pilatre  and  crossing  him- 
self) should  send  his  darkness  upon  the  valley,  the  path  would 
be  both  doubtful  and  dangerous.  The  travellers,  thus  admon- 
ished, gathered  the  capes  of  their  cloaks  close  round  their 
throats,  pulled  their  bonnets  resolvedly  over  their  brows,  drew 
the  buckle  of  the  broad  belts  which  fastened  their  mantles, 


8  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

and  each  with  a  mountain  staff  in  his  hand,  well  shod  with  an 
iron  spike,  they  pursued  their  journey  with  unabated  strength 
and  undaunted  spirit. 

With  every  step  the  scenes  around  them  appeared  to  change. 
Each  mountain,  as  if  its  firm  and  immutable  form  were  flexible 
and  varying,  altered  in  appearance,  like  that  of  a  shadowy 
apparition,  as  the  position  of  the  strangers  relative  to  them 
changed  with  their  motions,  and  as  the  mist,  which  continued 
slowly  though  constantly  to  descend,  influenced  the  rugged 
aspect  of  the  hills  and  valleys  which  it  shrouded  with  its 
vapoury  mantle.  The  nature  of  their  progress,  too,  never 
direct,  but  winding  by  a  narrow  path  along  the  sinuosities  of 
the  valley,  and  making  many  a  circuit  round  precipices  and 
other  obstacles  which  it  was  impossible  to  surmount,  added  to 
the  wild  variety  of  a  journey  in  which  at  last  the  travellers 
totally  lost  any  vague  idea  which  they  had  previously  enter- 
tained concerning  the  direction  in  which  the  road  led  them. 

*  I  would,'  said  the  elder,  'we  had  that  mystical  needle  which 
mariners  talk  of,  that  points  ever  to  the  north,  and  enables 
them  to  keep  their  way  on  the  waters,  when  there  is  neither 
cape  nor  headland,  sun,  moon,  nor  stars,  nor  any  mark  in 
heaven  or  earth,  to  tell  them  how  to  steer.' 

*  It  would  scarce  avail  us  among  these  mountains,'  answered 
the  youth ;  '  for,  though  that  wonderful  needle  may  keep  its 
point  to  the  northern  pole-star,  when  it  is  on  a  flat  surface  like 
the  sea,  it  is  not  to  be  thought  it  would  do  so  when  these  huge 
mountains  arise  like  walls  betwixt  the  steel  and  the  object  of 
its  sympathy.' 

*  I  fear  me,'  replied  the  father,  '  we  shall  find  our  guide,  who 
has  been  growing  hourly  more  stupid  since  he  left  his  own  valley, 
as  useless  as  you  suppose  the  compass  would  be  among  the  hills 
of  this  wild  country.  Canst  tell,  my  boy,'  said  he,  addressing 
Antonio  in  bad  Italian,  '  if  we  be  in  the  road  we  purposed  ? ' 

*  If  it  please  St.  Antonio,'  said  the  guide,  who  was  obviously 
too  much  confused  to  answer  the  question  directly. 

'And  that  water,  half  covered  with  mist,  which  glimmers 
through  the  fog,  at  the  foot  of  this  huge  black  precipice,  is  it 
still  a  part  of  the  Lake  of  Lucerne,  or  have  we  lighted  upon 
another  since  we  ascended  that  last  hill  1 ' 

Antonio  could  only  answer  that  they  ought  to  be  on  the 
Lake  of  Lucerne  still,  and  that  he  hoped  that  what  they  saw 
below  them  was  only  a  winding  branch  of  the  same  sheet  of 
water.    But  he  could  say  nothing  with  certainty. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  9 

*  Dog  of  an  Italian  ! '  exclaimed  the  younger  traveller,  '  thou 
deservest  to  have  thy  bones  broken,  for  undertaking  a  charge 
which  thou  art  as  incapable  to  perform  as  thou  art  to  guide  us 
to  Heaven ! ' 

'  Peace,  Arthur,'  said  his  father ;  *  if  you  frighten  the  lad, 
he  runs  off,  and  we  lose  the  small  advantage  we  might  have  by 
his  knowledge ;  if  you  use  your  baton,  he  rewards  you  with 
the  stab  of  a  knife,  for  such  is  the  humour  of  a  revengeful 
Lombard.  Either  way,  you  are  marred  instead  of  helped. 
Hark  thee  hither,  my  boy,'  he  continued,  in  his  indifferent 
Italian,  *  be  not  afraid  of  that  hot  youngster,  whom  I  wiU  not 
permit  to  injure  thee;  but  tell  me,  if  thou  canst,  the  names  of 
the  villages  by  which  we  are  to  make  our  journey  to-day  1 ' 

The  gentle  mode  in  which  the  elder  traveller  spoke  reassured 
the  lad,  who  had  been  somewhat  alarmed  at  the  harsh  tone  and 
menacing  expressions  of  his  younger  companion ;  and  he  poured 
forth,  in  hi  patois,  a  flood  of  names,  in  which  the  German 
guttural  sounds  were  strangely  intermixed  with  the  soft  accents 
of  the  Italian,  but  which  carried  to  the  hearer  no  intelligible 
information  concerning  the  object  of  his  question ;  so  that,  at 
length,  he  was  forced  to  conclude,  '  Even  lead  on,  in  Our  Lady's 
name,  or  in  St.  Antonio's,  if  you  like  it  better ;  we  shaU  but 
lose  time,  I  see,  in  trying  to  understand  each  other.' 

They  moved  on  as  before,  with  this  difference,  that  the 
guide,  leading  the  mule,  now  went  first,  and  was  followed  by 
the  other  two,  whose  motions  he  had  formerly  directed  by 
calling  to  them  from  behind.  The  clouds  meantime  became 
thicker  and  thicker,  and  the  mist,  which  had  at  first  been  a 
thin  vapour,  began  now  to  descend  in  the  form  of  a  small  thick 
rain,  which  gathered  like  dew  upon  the  capotes  of  the  travellers. 
Distant  rustling  and  groaning  sounds  were  heard  among  the 
remote  mountains,  similar  to  those  by  which  the  Evil  Spirit  of 
Mount  Pilatre  had  seemed  to  announce  the  storm.  The  boy 
again  pressed  his  companions  to  advance,  but  at  the  same  time 
threw  impediments  in  the  way  of  their  doing  so,  by  the  slow- 
ness and  indecision  which  he  showed  in  leading  them  on. 

Having  proceeded  in  this  manner  for  three  or  four  miles, 
which  uncertainty  rendered  doubly  tedious,  the  travellers  were 
at  length  engaged  in  a  narrow  path,  running  along  the  verge 
of  a  precipice.  Beneath  was  water,  but  of  what  description 
they  could  not  ascertain.  The  wind,  indeed,  which  began  to 
be  felt  in  sudden  gusts,  sometimes  swept  aside  the  mist  so 
completely  as  to  show   the   waves    glimmering   below;    but 


10  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

whether  they  were  those  of  the  same  lake  on  which  their  morn- 
ing journey  had  commenced,  whether  it  was  another  and  sepa- 
rate sheet  of  water  of  a  similar  character,  or  whether  it  was  a 
river  or  large  brook,  the  view  afforded  was  too  indistinct  to 
determine.  Thus  far  was  certain,  that  they  were  not  on  the 
shores  of  the  Lake  of  Lucerne,  where  it  displays  its  usual 
expanse  of  waters ;  for  the  same  hurricane  gusts  which  showed 
them  water  in  the  bottom  of  the  glen  gave  them  a  transient 
view  of  the  opposite  side,  at  what  exact  distance  they  could  not 
well  discern,  but  near  enough  to  show  tall  abrupt  rocks  and 
shaggy  pine  trees,  here  united  in  groups,  and  there  singly 
anchored  among  the  cliffs  which  overhung  the  water.  This 
was  a  more  distinct  landscape  than  the  farther  side  of  the  lake 
would  have  offered,  had  they  been  on  the  right  road. 

Hitherto  the  path,  though  steep  and  rugged,  was  plainly 
enough  indicated,  and  showed  traces  of  having  been  used  both 
by  riders  and  foot  passengers.  But  suddenly,  as  Antonio  with 
the  loaded  mule  had  reached  a  projecting  eminence,  around  the 
peak  of  which  the  path  made  a  sharp  turn,  he  stopped  short, 
with  his  usual  exclamation,  addressed  to  his  patron  saint.  It 
appeared  to  Arthur  that  the  mule  shared  the*  terrors  of  the 
guide ;  for  it  started  back,  put  forwards  its  fore  feet  separate 
from  each  other,  and  seemed,  by  the  attitude  which  it  assumed, 
to  intimate  a  determination  to  resist  every  proposal  to  advance, 
at  the  same  time  expressing  horror  and  fear  at  the  prospect 
which  lay  before  it. 

Arthur  pressed  forward,  not  only  from  curiosity,  but  that  he 
might  if  possible  bear  the  brunt  of  any  danger  before  his  father 
came  up  to  share  it.  In  less  time  than  we  have  taken  to  tell  the 
story,  the  young  man  stood  beside  Antonio  and  the  mule,  upon 
a  platform  of  rock  on  which  the  road  seemed  absolutely  to 
terminate,  and  from  the  farther  side  of  which  a  precipice  sunk 
sheer  down,  to  what  depth  the  mist  did  not  permit  him  to 
discern,  but  certainly  uninterrupted  for  more  than  three  hun- 
dred feet. 

The  blank  expression  which  overcast  the  visage  of  the 
younger  traveller,  and  traces  of  which  might  be  discerned  in 
the  physiognomy  of  the  beast  of  burden,  announced  alarm  and 
mortification  at  this  unexpected,  and,  as  it  seemed,  insurmount- 
able, obstacle.  Nor  did  the  looks  of  the  father,  who  presently 
after  came  up  to  the  same  spot,  convey  either  hope  or  comfort. 
He  stood  with  the  others  gazing  on  the  misty  gulf  beneath 
them,  and  looking  all  around,  but  in  vain,  for  some  continuation 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  11 

of  the  path,  which  certainly  had  never  been  originally  designed 
to  terminate  in  this  summary  manner.  As  they  stood  uncertain 
what  to  do  next,  the  son  in  vain  attempting  to  discover  some 
mode  of  passing  onward,  and  the  father  about  to  propose  that 
they  should  return  by  the  road  which  had  brought  them  hither, 
a  loud  howl  of  the  wind,  more  wild  than  they  had  yet  heard, 
swept  down  the  valley.  All  being  aware  of  the  danger  of 
being  hurled  from  the  precarious  station  which  they  occupied, 
snatched  at  bushes  and  rocks  by  which  to  secure  themselves, 
and  even  the  poor  mule  seemed  to  steady  itself  in  order  to 
withstand  the  approaching  hurricane.  The  gust  came  with 
such  unexpected  fury,  that  it  appeared  to  the  travellers  to 
shake  the  very  rock  on  which  they  stood,  and  would  have 
swept  them  from  its  surface  like  so  many  dry  leaves,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  momentary  precautions  which  they  had  taken  for 
their  safety.  But  as  the  wind  rushed  down  the  glen,  it  com- 
pletely removed  for  the  space  of  three  or  four  minutes  the  veil 
of  mist  which  former  gusts  had  only  served  to  agitate  or 
discompose,  and  showed  them  the  nature  and  cause  of  the 
interruption  which  they  had  met  with  so  unexpectedly. 

The  rapid  but  correct  eye  of  Arthur  was  then  able  to 
ascertain  that  the  path,  after  leaving  the  platform  of  rock  on 
which  they  stood,  had  originally  passed  upwards  in  the  same 
direction  along  the  edge  of  a  steep  bank  of  earth,  which  had 
then  formed  the  upper  covering  of  a  stratum  of  precipitous 
rocks.  But  it  had  chanced,  in  some  of  the  convulsions  of 
nature  which  take  place  in  those  wild  regions,  where  she  works 
upon  a  scale  so  formidable,  that  the  earth  had  made  a  slip,  or 
almost  a  precipitous  descent,  from  the  rock,  and  been  hurled 
downwards  with  the  path,  which  was  traced  along  the  top,  and 
with  bushes,  trees,  or  whatever  grew  upon  it,  into  the  channel 
of  the  stream ;  for  such  they  could  now  discern  the  water 
beneath  them  to  be,  and  not  a  lake,  or  an  arm  of  a  lake,  as 
they  had  hitherto  supposed. 

The  immediate  cause  of  this  phenomenon  might  probably 
have  been  an  earthquake,  not  unfrequent  in  that  country. 
The  bank  of  earth,  now  a  confused  mass  of  ruins  inverted  in 
its  fall,  showed  some  trees  growing  in  a  horizontal  position, 
and  others,  which,  having  pitched  on  their  heads  in  their 
descent,  were  at  once  inverted  and  shattered  to  pieces,  and  lay 
a  sport  to  the  streams  of  the  river  which  they  had  heretofore 
covered  with  gloomy  shadow.  The  gaunt  precipice  which  re- 
mained behind,  like  the  skeleton  of  some  huge  monster  divested 


12  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

of  its  flesh,  formed  the  wall  of  a  fearful  abyss,  resembling  the 
face  of  a  newly-wrought  quarry,  more  dismal  of  aspect  from  the 
rawness  of  its  recent  formation,  and  from  its  being  as  yet  un- 
covered with  any  of  the  vegetation  with  which  nature  speedily 
mantles  over  the  bare  surfiice  even  of  her  sternest  crags  and 
precipices. 

Besides  remarking  these  appearances,  which  tended  to  show 
that  this  interruption  of  the  road  had  been  of  recent  occur- 
rence, Arthur  was  able  to  observe,  on  the  further  side  of  the 
river,  higher  up  the  valley,  and  rising  out  of  the  pine  forests, 
interspersed  with  rocks,  a  square  building  of  considerable 
height,  like  the  ruins  of  a  Gothic  tower.  He  pointed  out  this 
remarkable  object  to  Antonio,  and  demanded  if  he  knew  it, 
justly  conjecturing  that,  fi'om  the  peculiarity  of  the  site,  it  was 
a  landmark  not  easily  to  be  forgotten  by  any  who  had  seen  it 
before.  Accordingly,  it  was  gladly  and  promptly  recognised 
by  the  lad,  who  called  cheerfully  out  that  the  place  was  Geier- 
stein  —  that  is,  as  he  explained  it,  the  Rock  of  the  Vultures. 
He  knew  it,  he  said,  by  the  old  tower,  as  well  as  by  a  huge 
pinnacle  of  rock  which  arose  near  it,  almost  in  the  form  of  a 
steeple,  to  the  top  of  which  the  lammergeier  (one  of  the  largest 
birds  of  prey  known  to  exist)  had  in  former  days  transported 
the  child  of  an  ancient  lord  of  the  castle.  He  proceeded  to 
recount  the  vow  which  was  made  by  the  knight  of  Geierstein 
ip  Our  Lady  of  Einsiedlen ;  and,  while  he  spoke,  the  castle, 
rocks,  woods,  and  precipices  again  faded  in  mist.  But  as  he 
concluded  his  wonderful  narrative  with  the  miracle  which 
restored  the  infant  again  to  its  father's  arms,  he  cried  out 
suddenly,  '  Look  to  yourselves  —  the  storm  !  —  the  storm  ! '  It 
came  accordingly,  and,  sweeping  the  mist  before  it,  again 
bestowed  on  the  travellers  a  view  of  the  horrors  around  them. 

'  Ay ! '  quoth  Antonio,  triumphantly,  as  the  gust  abated, 
'  old  Pontius  loves  little  to  hear  of  Our  Lady  of  Einsiedlen ;  but 
she  will  keep  her  own  with  him.     Ave  Maria ! ' 

'  That  tower,'  said  the  young  traveller,  '  seems  uninhabited. 
I  can  descry  no  smoke,  and  the  battlement  appears  ruinous.' 

*It  has  not  been  inhabited  for  many  a  day,'  answered  the 
guide.  '  But  I  would  I  were  at  it,  for  all  that.  Honest  Arnold 
Biederman,  the  landamman  (chief  magistrate)  of  the  canton 
of  Unterwalden,  dwells  near,  and  I  warrant  you  distressed 
strangers  will  not  want  the  best  that  cupboard  and  cellar  can 
j&nd  them  wherever  he  holds  rule.' 

*I   have  heard  of  him,'  said   the  elder   traveller,   whom 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  13 

Antonio  had  been  taught  to  call  Seignor  Philipson  — '  a  good 
and  hospitable  man,  and  one  who  enjoys  deserved  weight  with 
his  countrymen.' 

'  You  have  spoken  him  right,  seignor,'  answered  the  guide ; 
*  and  I  would  we  could  reach  his  house,  where  you  should  be 
sure  of  hospitable  treatment,  and  a  good  direction  for  your 
next  day's  journey.  But  how  we  are  to  get  to  the  Vulture's 
Castle,  unless  we  had  wings  like  the  vulture,  is  a  question  hard 
to  answer.' 

Arthur  replied  by  a  daring  proposal,  which  the  reader  will 
find  in  the  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER  II 


Away  with  me. 
The  clouds  grow  thicker  —  there  —  now  lean  on  me. 
Place  your  foot  here  —  here,  take  this  staff,  and  cling 
A  moment  to  that  shrub  —  now,  give  me  your  hand. 


The  chalet  will  be  gained  in  half  an  hour. 


Manfred. 


A  FTER  surveying  the  desolate   scene  as  accurately  as 

Z-\  the  stormy  state  of  the  atmosphere  would  permit,  the 
jL  ^  younger  of  the  travellers  observed,  '  In  any  other 
country  I  should  say  the  tempest  begins  to  abate,  but  what  to 
expect  in  this  land  of  desolation  it  were  rash  to  decide.  If  the 
apostate  spirit  of  Pilate  be  actually  on  the  blast,  these  lingering 
and  more  distant  howls  seem  to  intimate  that  he  is  returning 
to  his  place  of  punishment.  The  pathway  has  sunk  with  the 
ground  on  which  it  was  traced  :  I  can  see  part  of  it  lying  down 
in  the  abyss,  marking,  as  with  a  streak  of  clay,  yonder  mass  of 
earth  and  stone.  But  I  think  it  possible,  with  your  permission, 
my  father,  that  I  could  still  scramble  forward  along  the  edge 
of  the  precipice,  till  I  come  in  sight  of  the  habitation  which 
the  lad  tells  us  of  If  there  be  actually  such  a  one,  there 
must  be  an  access  to  it  somewhere ;  and  if  I  cannot  find 
the  path  out,  I  can  at  least  make  a  signal  to  those  who 
dwell  near  the  Vulture's  Nest  yonder,  and  obtain  some  friendly 
guidance.' 

*  I  cannot  consent  to  your  incurring  such  a  risk,'  said  his 
father ;  '  let  the  lad  go  forward,  if  he  can  and  will.  He  is 
mountain-bred,  and  I  will  reward  him  richly.' 

But  Antonio  declined  the  proposal  absolutely  and  decidedly. 
'  I  am  mountain-bred,'  he  said,  '  but  I  am  no  chamois-hunter  ^ 
and  I  have  no  wings  to  transport  me  fi^om  cliff  to  cliff,  like  a 
raven  —  gold  is  not  worth  life.' 

*And  God  forbid,'  said  Seignor  Philipson,  *that  I  should 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  15 

tempt  thee  to  weigh  them  against  each  other !  Go  on,  then, 
my  son  —  I  follow  thee.' 

'  Under  your  favour,  dearest  sir,  no,'  replied  the  young 
man ;  *  it  is  enough  to  endanger  the  life  of  one,  and  mine,  far 
the  most  worthless,  should,  by  all  the  rules  of  wisdom  as  well 
as  nature,  be  put  first  in  hazard.' 

'  No,  Arthur,'  replied  his  father,  in  a  determined  voice  — *  no, 
my  son  :  I  have  survived  much,  but  I  will  not  survive  thee.' 

*  I  fear  not  for  the  issue,  father,  if  you  permit  me  to  go 
alone ;  but  I  cannot  —  dare  not —  undertake  a  task  so  perilous, 
if  you  persist  in  attempting  to  share  it,  with  no  better  aid  than 
mine.  While  I  endeavoured  to  make  a  new  advance,  I  should 
be  ever  looking  back  to  see  how  you  might  attain  the  station 
which  I  was  about  to  leave.  And  bethink  you,  dearest  father, 
that,  if  I  fall,  I  fall  an  unregarded  thing,  of  as  little  moment 
as  the  stone  or  tree  which  has  toppled  headlong  down  before 
me.  But  you  —  should  your  foot  slip  or  your  hand  fail,  bethink 
you  what  and  how  much  must  needs  fall  with  you  ! ' 

*Thou  art  right,  my  child,'  said  the  father.  *I  still  have 
that  which  binds  me  to  life,  even  though  I  were  to  lose  in  thee 
a,ll  that  is  dear  to  me.  Our  Lady  and  Our  Lady's  knight  bless 
thee  and  prosper  thee,  my  child  !  Thy  foot  is  young,  thy  hand 
is  strong;  thou  hast  not  climbed  Plynlimmon  in  vain.  Be 
bold,  but  be  wary ;  remember  there  is  a  man  who,  failing  thee, 
has  but  one  act  of  duty  to  bind  him  to  the  earth,  and,  that 
discharged,  will  soon  follow  thee.' 

The  young  man  accordingly  prepared  for  his  journey,  and, 
stripping  himself  of  his  cumbrous  cloak,  showed  his  well- 
proportioned  limbs  in  a  jerkin  of  grey  cloth,  which  sat  close 
to  his  person.  The  father's  resolution  gave  way  when  his  son 
turned  round  to  bid  him  farewell.  He  recalled  his  permission, 
and  in  a  peremptory  tone  forbade  him  to  proceed.  But  without 
listening  to  the  prohibition,  Arthur  had  commenced  his  perilous 
adventure.  Descending  from  the  platform  on  which  he  stood, 
by  the  boughs  of  an  old  ash- tree  which  thrust  itself  out  of  the 
cleft  of  a  rock,  the  youth  was  enabled  to  gain,  though  at 
great  risk,  a  narrow  ledge,  the  very  brink  of  the  precipice,  by 
creeping  along  which  he  hoped  to  pass  on  till  he  made  himself 
heard  or  seen  from  the  habitation,  of  whose  existence  the  guide 
had  informed  him.  His  situation,  as  he  pursued  this  bold 
purpose,  appeared  so  precarious,  that  even  the  hired  attendant 
hardly  dared  to  draw  breath  as  he  gazed  on  him.  The  ledge 
which  supported  him  seemed  to  grow  so  narrow  as  he  passed 


16  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

along  it  as  to  become  altogether  invisible,  while  sometimes  with 
his  face  to  the  precipice,  sometimes  looking  forward,  sometimes 
glancing  his  eyes  upward,  but  never  venturing  to  cast  a  look 
below,  lest  his  brain  should  grow  giddy  at  a  sight  so  appalling, 
he  wound  his  way  onward.  To  his  father  and  the  attendant, 
who  beheld  his  progress,  it  was  less  that  of  a  man  advancing 
in  the  ordinary  manner,  and  resting  by  aught  connected  with 
the  firm  earth,  than  that  of  an  insect  crawling  along  the  face 
of  a  perpendicular  wall,  of  whose  progressive  movement  we  are 
indeed  sensible,  but  cannot  perceive  the  means  of  its  support. 
And  bitterly,  most  bitterly,  did  the  miserable  parent  now 
lament  that  he  had  not  persisted  in  his  purpose  to  encounter 
the  baffling,  and  even  perilous,  measure  of  retracing  his  steps  to 
the  habitation  of  the  preceding  night.  He  should  then,  at 
least,  have  partaken  the  fate  of  the  son  of  his  love. 

Meanwhile,  the  young  man's  spirits  were  strongly  braced  for 
the  performance  of  his  perilous  task.  He  laid  a  powerful 
restraint  on  his  imagination,  which  in  general  was  sufficiently 
active,  and  refused  to  listen,  even  for  an  instant,  to  any  of  the 
horrible  insinuations  by  which  fancy  augments  actual  danger. 
He  endeavoured  manfully  to  reduce  all  around  him  to  the 
scale  of  right  reason,  as  the  best  support  of  true  courage. 
*  This  ledge  of  rock,'  he  urged  to  himself,  '  is  but  narrow,  yet 
it  has  breadth  enough  to  support  me ;  these  cliffs  and  crevices  in 
the  surface  are  small  and  distant,  but  the  one  affords  as  secure 
a  resting-place  to  my  feet,  the  other  as  available  a  grasp  to  my 
hands,  as  if  I  stood  on  a  platform  of  a  cubit  broad,  and  rested 
my  arm  on  a  balustrade  of  marble.  My  safety,  therefore, 
depends  on  myself  If  I  move  with  decision,  step  firmly,  and 
hold  fast,  what  signifies  how  near  I  am  to  the  mouth  of  an 
abyss  ? ' 

Thus  estimating  the  extent  of  his  danger  by  the  measure  of 
sound  sense  and  reality,  and  supported  by  some  degree  of 
practice  in  such  exercise,  the  brave  youth  went  forward  on  his 
awful  journey,  step  by  step,  winning  his  way  with  a  caution, 
and  fortitude,  and  presence  of  mind  which  alone  could  have 
saved  him  from  instant  destruction.  At  length  he  gained  a 
point  where  a  projecting  rock  formed  the  angle  of  the  precipice, 
so  far  as  it  had  been  visible  to  him  from  the  platform.  This, 
therefore,  was  the  critical  point  of  his  undertaking  ;  but  it  was 
also  the  most  perilous  part  of  it.  The  rock  projected  more 
than  six  feet  forward  over  the  torrent,  which  he  heard  raging 
at  the  depth  of  a  hundred  yards  beneath,  with  a  noise  like 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  17 

subterranean  thunder.  He  examined  the  spot  with  the  utmost 
care,  and  was  led,  by  the  existence  of  shrubs,  grass,  and  even 
stunted  trees,  to  believe  that  this  rock  marked  the  farthest 
extent  of  the  slip  or  slide  of  earth,  and  that,  could  he  but 
turn  round  the  angle  of  which  it  was  the  termination,  he  might 
hope  to  attain  the  continuation  of  the  path  which  had  been  so 
strangely  interrupted  by  this  convulsion  of  nature.  But  the 
crag  jutted  out  so  much  as  to  afford  no  possibility  of  passing 
either  under  or  around  it ;  and  as  it  rose  several  feet  above  the 
position  which  Arthur  had  attained,  it  was  no  easy  matter  to 
climb  over  it.  This  was,  however,  the  course  which  he  chose, 
as  the  only  mode  of  surmounting  what  he  hoped  might  prove 
the  last  obstacle  to  his  voyage  of  discovery.  A  projecting 
tree  afforded  him  the  means  of  raising  and  swinging  himself 
up  to  the  top  of  the  crag.  But  he  had  scarcely  planted  him- 
self on  it,  had  scarcely  a  moment  to  congratulate  himself  on 
seeing,  amid  a  wild  chaos  of  cliffs  and  wood,  the  gloomy  ruins 
of  Geierstein,  with  smoke  arising,  and  indicating  something 
like  a  human  habitation  beside  them,  when,  to  his  extreme 
terror,  he  felt  the  huge  cliff  on  which  he  stood  tremble,  stoop 
slowly  forward,  and  gradually  sink  from  its  position.  Project- 
ing as  it  was,  and  shaken  as  its  equilibrium  had  been  by  the 
most  recent  earthquake,  it  lay  now  so  insecurely  poised,  that 
its  balance  was  entirely  destroyed  even  by  the  addition  of 
the  young  man's  weight. 

Aroused  by  the  imminence  of  the  danger,  Arthur,  by  an 
instinctive  attempt  at  self-preservation,  drew  cautiously  back 
from  the  falling  crag  into  the  tree  by  which  he  had  ascended, 
and  turned  his  head  back  as  if  spellbound,  to  watch  the 
descent  of  the  fatal  rock  from  which  he  had  just  retreated.  It 
tottered  for  two  or  three  seconds,  as  if  uncertain  which  way  to 
fall ;  and  had  it  taken  a  sidelong  direction,  must  have  dashed  the 
adventurer  from  his  place  of  refuge,  or  borne  both  the  tree  and 
him  headlong  down  into  the  river.  After  a  moment  of  horrible 
uncertainty,  the  power  of  gravitation  determined  a  direct  and 
forward  descent.  Down  went  the  huge  fragment,  which  must 
have  weighed  at  least  twenty  tons,  rending  and  splintering  in  its 
precipitate  course  the  trees  and  bushes  which  it  encountered, 
and  settling  at  length  in  the  channel  of  the  torrent,  with  a  din 
equal  to  the  discharge  of  a  hundred  pieces  of  artillery.  ^  The 
sound  was  re-echoed  from  bank  to  bank,  from  precipice  to 
precipice,  with  emulative  thunders ;  nor  was  the  tumult  silent 
till  it  rose  into  the  region  of  eternal  snows,  which,  equally 

YOL.  XXIII  —  2 


18  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

insensible  to  terrestrial  sounds  and  unfavourable  to  animal 
life,  heard  the  roar  in  their  majestic  solitude,  but  suffered  it  to 
die  away  without  a  responsive  voice. 

What,  in  the  meanwhile,  were  the  thoughts  of  the  distracted 
father,  who  saw  the  ponderous  rock  descend,  but  could  not 
mark  whether  his  only  son  had  borne  it  company  in  its  dread- 
ful fall !  His  first  impulse  was  to  rush  forward  along  the  face 
of  the  precipice  which  he  had  seen  Arthur  so  lately  traverse ; 
and  when  the  lad  Antonio  withheld  him,  by  throwing  his  arms 
around  him,  he  turned  on  the  guide  with  the  fury  of  a  bear 
which  had  been  robbed  of  her  cubs. 

'Unhand  me,  base  peasant,'  he  exclaimed,  *or  thou  diest  on 
the  spot !  '* 

*  Alas  ! '  said  the  poor  boy,  dropping  on  his  knees  before  him, 
*  I  too  have  a  father ! ' 

The  appeal  went  to  the  heart  of  the  traveller,  who  instantly 
let  the  lad  go,  and,  holding  up  his  hands  and  lifting  his  eyes 
towards  heaven,  said,  in  accents  of  the  deepest  agony,  mingled 
with  devout  resignation,  '  Fiat  voluntas  tua  I  He  was  my  last, 
and  loveliest,  and  best  beloved,  and  most  worthy  of  my  love ; 
and  yonder,'  he  added  —  *  yonder  over  the  glen  soar  the  birds  of 
prey  who  are  to  feast  on  his  young  blood.  But  I  will  see  him 
once  more,'  exclaimed  the  miserable  parent,  as  the  huge  carrion 
vulture  floated  past  him  on  the  thick  air  —  'I  will  see  my 
Arthur  once  more,  ere  the  wolf  and  the  eagle  mangle  him  —  I 
will  see  all  of  him  that  earth  still  holds.  Detain  me  not ;  but 
abide  here,  and  watch  me  as  I  advance.  If  I  fall,  as  is  most 
likely,  I  charge  you  to  take  the  sealed  papers  which  you  will 
find  in  the  valise,  and  carry  tjiem  to  the  person  to  whom  they 
are  addressed,  with  the  least  possible  delay.  There  is  money 
enough  in  the  purse  to  bury  me  with  my  poor  boy,  and  to 
cause  masses  be  said  for  our  souls,  and  yet  leave  you  a  rich 
recompense  for  your  journey.' 

The  honest  Swiss  lad,  obtuse  in  his  understanding,  but  kind 
and  faithful  in  his  disposition,  blubbered  as  his  employer  spoke, 
and,  afraid  to  offer  farther  remonstrance  or  opposition,  saw  his 
temporary  master  prepare  himself  to  traverse  the  same  fatal 
precipice  over  the  verge  of  which  his  ill-fated  son  had  seemed 
to  pass  to  the  fate  which,  with  all  the  wildness  of  a  parent's 
anguish,  his  father  was  hastening  to  share. 

Suddenly  there  was  heard,  from  beyond  the  fatal  angle  from 
which  the  mass  of  stone  had  been  displaced  by  Arthur's  rash 
ascent,  the  loud  hoarse  sound  of  one  of  those  huge  horns  made 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  19 

out  of  the  spoils  of  the  urus,  or  wild  bull,  of  Switzerland,  which 
in  ancient  times  announced  the  terrors  of  the  charge  of  these 
mountaineers,  and,  indeed,  served  them  in  war  instead  of  all 
musical  instruments. 

'  Hold,  sir  —  hold  ! '  exclaimed  the  Grison,  '  yonder  is  a  signal 
from  Geierstein.  Some  one  will  presently  come  to  our  assist- 
ance, and  show  us  the  safer  way  to  seek  for  your  son.  And 
look  you  — at  yon  green  bush  that  is  glimmering  through  the 
mist,  St.  Antonio  preserve  me,  as  I  see  a  white  cloth  displayed 
there  !    It  is  just  beyond  the  point  where  the  rock  fell.' 

The  father  endeavoured  to  fix  his  eyes  on  the  spot,  but  they 
filled  so  fast  with  tears,  that  they  could  not  discern  the  object 
which  the  guide  pointed  out.  '  It  is  all  in  vain,'  he  said,  dash- 
ing the  tears  from  his  eyes  :  '  I  shaU  never  see  more  of  him 
than  his  lifeless  remains.' 

'  You  will  —  you  will  see  him  in  life,'  said  the  Grison.  '  St. 
Antonio  wills  it  so.     See,  the  white  cloth  waves  again.' 

'Some  remnant  of  his  garments,'  said  the  despairing  father 
— '  some  wretched  memorial  of  his  fate.  No,  my  eyes  see  it 
not.  I  have  beheld  the  fall  of  my  house  ;  would  that  the  vul- 
tures of  these  crags  had  rather  torn  them  from  their  sockets  ! ' 

'  Yet  look  again,'  said  the  Swiss  ;  *  the  cloth  hangs  not  loose 
upon  a  bough  :  I  can  see  that  it  is  raised  on  the  end  of  a  stafi*, 
and  is  distinctly  waved  to  and  fro.  Your  son  makes  a  signal 
that  he  is  safe.' 

'And  if  it  be  so,'  said  the  traveller,  clasping  his  hands 
together,  '  blessed  be  the  eyes  that  see  it,  and  the  tongue  that 
tells  it !  If  we  find  my  son,  and  find  him  alive,  this  day  shall 
be  a  lucky  one  for  thee  too.' 

'Nay,'  answered  the  lad,  'I  only  ask  that  you  will  abide 
still,  and  act  by  counsel,  and  I  will  hold  myself  quit  for  my 
services.  Only,  it  is  not  creditable  to  an  honest  lad  to  have 
people  lose  themselves  by  their  own  wilfulness ;  for  the  blame, 
after  all,  is  sure  to  fall  upon  the  guide,  as  if  he  could  prevent 
old  Pontius  from  shaking  the  mist  from  his  brow,  or  banks  of 
earth  from  slipping  down  into  the  valley  at  a  time,  or  young 
hare-brained  gallants  from  walking  upon  precipices  as  narrow 
as  the  edge  of  a  knife,  or  madmen,  whose  grey  hairs  might  make 
them  wiser,  from  drawing  daggers  like  bravos  in  Lombardy.' 

Thus  the  guide  ran  on,  and  in  that  vein  he  might  have  long 
continued,  for  Seignor  Philipson  heard  him  not.  Each  throb 
of  his  pulse,  each  thought  of  his  heart,  was  directed  towards 
the  object  which  the  lad  referred  to  as  a  signal  of  his  son's 


20  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

safety.  He  became  at  length  satisfied  that  the  signal  was 
actually  waved  by  a  human  hand ;  and,  as  eager  in  the  glow 
of  reviving  hope  as  he  had  of  late  been  under  the  influence  of 
desperate  grief,  he  again  prepared  for  the  attempt  of  advancing 
towards  his  son,  and  assisting  him,  if  possible,  in  regaining  a 
place  of  safety.  But  the  entreaties  and  reiterated  assurances 
of  his  guide  induced  him  to  pause. 

'Are  you  fit,'  he  said,  'to  go  on  the  crag?  Can  you  repeat 
your  credo  and  ave  without  missing  or  misplacing  a  word  ?  for 
without  that  our  old  men  say  your  neck,  had  you  a  score  of 
them,  would  be  in  danger.  Is  your  eye  clear,  and  your  feet 
firm  1  I  trow  the  one  streams  like  a  fountain,  and  the  other 
shakes  like  the  aspen  which  overhangs  it !  Rest  here  till  those 
arrive  who  are  far  more  able  to  give  your  son  help  than  either 
you  or  I  are.  I  judge,  by  the  fashion  of  his  blowing,  that 
yonder  is  the  horn  of  the  goodman  of  Geierstein,  Arnold 
Biederman.  He  hath  seen  your  son's  danger,  and  is  even  now 
providing  for  his  safety  and  ours.  There  are  cases  in  which  the 
aid  of  one  stranger,  well  acquainted  with  the  country,  is  worth 
that  of  three  brothers  who  know  not  the  crags.' 

'But  if  yonder  horn  really  sounded  a  signal,'  said  the 
traveller,  '  how  chanced  it  that  my  son  replied  not  ? ' 

'And  if  he  did  so,  as  is  most  likely  he  did,'  rejoined  the 
Grison,  '  how  should  we  have  heard  him  ?  The  bugle  of  Uri 
itself  sounded  amid  these  horrible  dins  of  water  and  tempest 
like  the  reed  of  a  shepherd  boy ;  and  how  think  you  we  should 
hear  the  halloo  of  a  man  ? ' 

'  Yet,  methinks,'  said  Seignor  Philipson, '  I  do  hear  something 
amid  this  roar  of  elements  which  is  like  a  human  voice  ;  but  it 
is  not  Arthur's.' 

'I  wot  well,  no,'  answered  the  Grison  :  'that  is  a  woman's 
voice.  The  maidens  will  converse  with  each  other  in  that 
manner,  from  cliff  to  cliff,  through  storm  and  tempest,  were 
there  a  mile  between.' 

'  Now,  Heaven  be  praised  for  this  providential  relief ! '  said 
Seignor  Philipson ;  '  I  trust  we  shall  yet  see  this  dreadful  day 
safely  ended.     I  will  halloo  in  answer.' 

He  attempted  to  do  so,  but,  inexperienced  in  the  art  of 
making  himself  heard  in  such  a  country,  he  pitched  his  voice 
in  the  same  key  with  that  of  the  roar  of  wave  and  wind ;  so 
that,  even  at  twenty  yards  from  the  place  where  he  was  speak- 
ing, it  must  have  been  totally  indistinguishable  from  that  of 
the  elemental  war  around  them.    The  lad  smiled  at  his  patron's 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  21 

Ineffectual  attempts,  and  then  raised  his  voice  himself  in  a 
high,  wild,  and  prolonged  scream,  which,  while  produced  with 
apparently  much  less  effort  than  that  of  the  Englishman,  was, 
nevertheless,  a  distinct  sound,  separated  from  others  by  the 
key  to  which  it  was  pitched,  and  was  probably  audible  to  a 
very  considerable    distance.      It  was  presently  answered   by 
distant  cries  of  the  same  nature,  which  gradually  approached 
the  platform,  bringing  renovated  hope  to  the  anxious  traveller. 
If  the  distress  of  the  father  rendered  his  condition  an  object 
of  deep  compassion,  that  of  the  son,  at  the  same  moment,  was 
sufficiently  perilous.     We  have  already  stated  that  Arthur 
Philipson   had  commenced  his  precarious  journey  along  the 
precipice  with  all  the  coolness,  resolution,  and  unshaken  deter- 
mination of  mind  which  was  most  essential  to  a  task  where  all 
must  depend  upon  firmness  of  nerve.     But  the  formidable 
accident  which  checked  his  onward  progress  was  of  a  character 
so  dreadful  as  made  him  feel  all  the  bitterness  of  a  death 
instant,  horrible,  and,  as  it  seemed,  inevitable.     The  solid  rock 
had  trembled  and  rent  beneath  his  footsteps,  and  although,  by 
an  effort  rather  mechanical  than  voluntary,  he  had  withdrawn 
himself  from  the  instant  ruin  attending  its  descent,  he  felt  as 
if  the  better  part  of  him,  his  firmness  of  mind  and  strength  of 
body,  had  been  rent  away  with  the  descending  rock,  as  it  fell 
thundering,  with  clouds  of  dust  and  smoke,  into  the  torrents 
and  whirlpools  of  the  vexed  gulf  beneath.     In  fact,  the  seaman 
swept  from  the  deck  of  a  wrecked  vessel,  drenched  in  the  waves, 
and  battered  against  the  rocks  on  the  shore,  does  not  differ 
more  from  the  same  mariner  when,  at  the  commencement  of 
the  gale,  he  stood  upon  the  deck  of  his  favourite  ship,  proud  of 
her  strength  and  his  own  dexterity,  than  Arthur,  when  com- 
mencing his  journey,  from  the  same  Arthur,  while  clinging  to 
the  decayed  trunk  of  an  old  tree,  from  which,  suspended  be- 
tween heaven  and  earth,  he  saw  the  fall  of  the  crag  which  he 
had  so  nearly  accompanied.     The  effects  of  his  terror,  indeed, 
were  physical  as  well  as  moral,  for  a  thousand  colours  played 
before  his  eyes ;  he  was  att-acked  by  a  sick  dizziness,  and  de- 
prived at  once  of  the  obedience  of  those  limbs   which  had 
hitherto  served  him  so  admirably ;  his  arms  and  hands,  as  if 
no  longer  at  his  own  command,  now  clung  to  the  branches  of 
the  tree,  with  a  cramp-like  tenacity  over  which  he  seemed  to 
possess  no  power,  and  now  trembled  in  a  state  of  such  complete 
nervous  relaxation  as  led  him  to  fear  that  they  were  becoming 
unable  to  support  him  longer  in  his  position. 


22  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

An  incident,  in  itself  trifling,  added  to  the  distress  occa- 
sioned by  this  alienation  of  his  powers.  All  living  things  in 
the  neighbourhood  had,  as  might  be  supposed,  been  startled  by 
the  tremendous  fall  to  which  his  progress  had  given  occasion. 
Flights  of  owls,  bats,  and  other  birds  of  darkness,  compelled  to 
betake  themselves  to  the  air,  had  lost  no  time  in  returning  into 
their  bowers  of  ivy,  or  the  harbour  afforded  them  by  the  rifts 
and  holes  of  the  neighbouring  rocks.  One  of  this  ill-omened 
flight  chanced  to  be  a  lammergeier,  or  Alpine  vulture,  a  bird 
larger  and  more  voracious  than  the  eagle  himself,  and  which 
Arthur  had  not  been  accustomed  to  see,  or  at  least  to  look 
upon  closely.  With  the  instinct  of  most  birds  of  prey,  it  is  the 
custom  of  this  creature,  when  gorged  with  food,  to  assume  some 
station  of  inaccessible  security,  and  there  remain  stationary  and 
motionless  for  days  together,  till  the  work  of  digestion  has  been 
accomplished,  and  activity  returns  with  the  pressure  of  appetite. 
Disturbed  from  such  a  state  of  repose,  one  of  these  terrific 
birds  had  risen  from  the  ravine  to  which  the  species  gives  its 
name,  and  having  circled  unwillingly  round,  with  a  ghastly 
scream  and  a  flagging  wing,  it  had  sunk  down  upon  the  pin- 
nacle of  a  crag,  not  four  yards  from  the  tree  in  which  Arthur 
held  his  precarious  station.  Although  still  in  some  degree 
stupified  by  torpor,  it  seemed  encouraged  by  the  motionless 
state  of  the  young  man  to  suppose  him  dead  or  dying,  and  sat 
there  and  gazed  at  him,  without  displaying  any  of  that  appre- 
hension which  the  fiercest  animals  usually  entertain  from  the 
vicinity  of  man. 

As  Arthur,  endeavouring  to  shake  off  the  incapacitating 
effects  of  his  panic  fear,  raised  his  eyes  to  look  gradually  and 
cautiously  around,  he  encountered  those  of  the  voracious  and 
obscene  bird,  whose  head  and  neck  denuded  of  feathers,  her 
eyes  surrounded  by  an  iris  of  an  orange-tawny  colour,  and  a 
position  more  horizontal  than  erect,  distinguished  her  as  much 
from  the  noble  carriage  and  graceful  proportions  of  the  eagle 
as  those  of  the  lion  place  him  in  the  ranks  of  creation  above 
the  gaunt,  ravenous,  grisly,  yet  dastard  wolf. 

As  if  arrested  by  a  charm,  the  eyes  of  young  Philipson 
remained  bent  on  this  ill-omened  and  ill-favoured  bird,  without 
his  having  the  power  to  remove  them.  The  apprehension  of 
dangers,  ideal  as  well  as  real,  weighed  upon  his  weakened  mind, 
disabled  as  it  was  by  the  circumstances  of  his  situation.  The 
near  approach  of  a  creature  not  more  loathsome  to  the  human 
race  than  averse  to  come  within  their  reach  seemed  as  ominous 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  23 

as  it  was  unusual.  Why  did  it  gaze  on  him  with  such  glaring 
earnestness,  projecting  its  disgusting  form,  as  if  presently  to 
alight  upon  his  person  ?  The  foul  bird,  was  she  the  demon  of 
the  place  to  which  her  name  referred,  and  did  she  come  to 
exult  that  an  intruder  on  her  haunts  seemed  involved  amid 
their  perils,  with  little  hope  or  chance  of  deliverance  ?  Or  was 
it  a  native  vulture  of  the  rocks,  whose  sagacity  foresaw  that 
the  rash  traveller  was  soon  destined  to  become  its  victim? 
Could  the  creature,  whose  senses  are  said  to  be  so  acute,  argue 
from  circumstances  the  stranger's  approaching  death,  and  wait, 
like  a  raven  or  hooded  crow  by  a  dying  sheep,  for  the  earliest 
opportunity  to  commence  her  ravenous  banquet?  Was  he 
doomed  to  feel  its  beak  and  talons  before  his  heart's  blood 
should  cease  to  beat?  Had  he  already  lost  the  dignity  of 
humanity,  the  awe  which  the  being  formed  in  the  image  of  his 
Maker  inspires  into  all  inferior  creatures  1 

Apprehensions  so  painful  served  more  than  all  that  reason 
could  suggest  to  renew  in  some  degree  the  elasticity  of  the 
young  man's  mind.  By  waving  his  handkerchief,  using,  how- 
ever, the  greatest  precaution  in  his  movements,  he  succeeded  in 
scaring  the  vulture  from  his  vicinity.  It  rose  from  its  resting- 
place,  screaming  harshly  and  dolefully,  and  sailed  on  its  ex- 
panded pinions  to  seek  a  place  of  more  undisturbed  repose, 
while  the  adventurous  traveller  felt  a  sensible  pleasure  at  being 
relieved  of  its  disgusting  presence. 

With  more  collected  ideas,  the  young  man,  who  could  obtain, 
from  his  position,  a  partial  view  of  the  platform  he  had  left, 
endeavoured  to  testify  his  safety  to  his  father,  by  displaying, 
as  high  as  he  could,  the  banner  by  which  he  had  chased  off  the 
vulture.  Like  them,  too,  he  heard,  but  at  a  less  distance,  the 
burst  of  the  great  Swiss  horn,  which  seemed  to  announce  some 
near  succour.  He  replied  by  shouting  and  waving  his  flag,  to 
direct  assistance  to  the  spot  where  it  was  so  much  required ; 
and,  recalling  his  faculties,  which  had  almost  deserted  him,  he 
laboured  mentally  to  recover  hope,  and  with  hope  the  means 
and  motive  for  exertion. 

A  faithful  Catholic,  he  eagerly  recommended  himself  in 
prayer  to  Our  Lady  of  Einsiedlen,  and,  making  vows  of  pro- 
pitiation, besought  her  intercession  that  he  might  be  delivered 
from  his  dreadful  condition.  'Or,  gracious  Lady,'  he  con- 
cluded his  orison,  'if  it  is  my  doom  to  lose  my  life  like  a 
hunted  fox  amidst  this  savage  wilderness  of  tottering  crags, 
restore  at  least  my  natural  sense  of  patience  and  courage,  and 


24  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

let  not  one  who  has  lived  like  a  man,  though  a  sinful  one, 
meet  death  like  a  timid  hare  1 ' 

Having  devoutly  recommended  himself  to  that  protectress, 
of  whom  the  legends  of  the  Catholic  Church  form  a  picture  so 
amiable,  Arthur,  though  every  nerve  still  shook  with  his  late 
agitation,  and  his  heart  throbbed  with  a  violence  that  threat- 
ened to  suffocate  him,  turned  his  thoughts  and  observation  to 
the  means  of  effecting  his  escape.  But,  as  he  looked  around 
him,  he  became  more  and  more  sensible  how  much  he  was 
enervated  by  the  bodily  injuries  and  the  mental  agony  which 
he  had  sustained  during  his  late  peril.  He  could  not,  by  any 
effort  of  which  he  was  capable,  fix  his  giddy  and  bewildered 
eyes  on  the  scene  around  him  :  they  seemed  to  reel  till  the 
landscape  danced  along  with  them,  and  a  motley  chaos  of 
thickets  and  tall  cliffs,  which  interposed  between  him  and  the 
ruinous  Castle  of  Geierstein,  mixed  and  whirled  round  in  such 
confusion,  that  nothing  save  the  consciousness  that  such  an 
idea  was  the  suggestion  of  partial  insanity  prevented  him  from 
throwing  himself  from  the  tree,  as  if  to  join  the  wild  dance  to 
which  his  disturbed  brain  had  given  motion. 

*  Heaven  be  my  protection ! '  said  the  unfortunate  young 
man,  closing  his  eyes,  in  hopes,  by  abstracting  himself  from 
the  terrors  of  his  situation,  to  compose  his  too  active  imagina- 
tion, '  my  senses  are  abandoning  me ! ' 

He  became  still  more  convinced  that  this  was  the  case,  when 
a  female  voice,  in  a  high-pitched  but  eminently  musical  accent, 
was  heard  at  no  great  distance,  as  if  calling  to  him.  He  opened 
his  eyes  once  more,  raised  his  head,  and  looked  towards  the 
place  from  whence  the  sounds  seemed  to  come,  though  far 
from  being  certain  that  they  existed  saving  in  his  own  dis- 
ordered imagination.  The  vision  which  appeared  had  almost 
confirmed  him  in  the  opinion  that  his  mind  was  unsettled,  and 
his  senses  in  no  state  to  serve  him  accurately. 

Upon  the  very  summit  of  a  pyramidical  rock  that  rose  out 
of  the  depth  of  the  valley  was  seen  a  female  figure,  so  obscured 
by  mist  that  only  the  outline  could  be  traced.  The  form, 
reflected  against  the  sky,  appeared  rather  the  undefined  linea- 
ments of  a  spirit  than  of  a  mortal  maiden;  for  her  person 
seemed  as  light,  and  scarcely  more  opaque,  than  the  thin 
cloud  that  surrounded  her  pedestal.  Arthur's  first  belief  was 
that  the  Virgin  had  heard  his  vows,  and  had  descended  in 
person  to  his  rescue;  and  he  was  about  to  recite  his  Ave 
Maria,  when  the  voice  again  called  to  him  with  the  singular 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  25 

shrill  modulation  of  the  mountain  halloo,  by  which  the  natives 
of  the  Alps  can  hold  conference  with  each  other  from  one 
mountain  ridge  to  another,  across  ravines  of  great  depth  and 
width. 

While  he  debated  how  to  address  this  unexpected  appari- 
tion, it  disappeared  from  the  point  which  it  at  first  occupied, 
and  presently  after  became  again  visible,  perched  on  the  cliff 
out  of  which  projected  the  tree  in  which  Arthur  had  taken 
refuge.  Her  personal  appearance,  as  well  as  her  dress,  made 
it  then  apparent  that  she  was  a  maiden  of  those  mountains, 
familiar  with  their  dangerous  paths.  He  saw  that  a  beautiful 
young  woman  stood  before  him,  who  regarded  him  with  a 
mixture  of  pity  and  wonder. 

'Stranger,'  she  at  length  said,  *who  are  you,  and  whence 
come  you?' 

'I  am  a  stranger,  maiden,  as  you  justly  term  me,'  answered 
the  young  man,  raising  himself  as  well  as  he  could.  '  I  left 
Lucerne  this  morning,  with  my  father  and  a  guide.  I  parted 
with  them  not  three  furlongs  from  hence.  May  it  please  you, 
gentle  maiden,  to  warn  them  of  my  safety,  for  I  know  my 
father  will  be  in  despair  upon  my  account  1' 

'Willingly,'  said  the  maiden;  'but  I  think  my  uncle,  or 
some  one  of  my  kinsmen,  must  have  already  found  them,  and 
will  prove  faithful  guides.  Can  I  not  aid  you  ?  Are  you  wounded 
—  are  you  hurt "?  We  were  alarmed  by  the  fall  of  a  rock  —  ay, 
and  yonder  it  lies,  a  mass  of  no  ordinary  size.' 

As  the  Swiss  maiden  spoke  thus,  she  approached  so  close  to 
the  verge  of  the  precipice,  and  looked  with  such  indifference 
into  the  gulf,  that  the  sympathy  which  connects  the  actor  and 
spectator  upon  such  occasions  brought  back  the  sickness  and 
vertigo  from  which  Arthur  had  just  recovered,  and  he  sunk 
back  into  his  former  more  recumbent  posture  with  something 
like  a  faint  groan. 

'You  are  then  ilU'  said  the  maiden,  who  observed  him 
turn  pale.     '  Where  and  what  is  the  harm  you  have  received  ? ' 

'  None,  gentle  maiden,  saving  some  bruises  of  little  import ; 
but  my  head  turns,  and  my  heart  grows  sick,  when  I  see  you 
so  near  the  verge  of  the  cliff.' 

'  Is  that  all  1 '  replied  the  Swiss  maiden.  '  Know,  stranger, 
that  I  do  not  stand  on  my  uncle's  hearth  with  more  security 
than  I  have  stood  upon  precipices  compared  to  which  this  is  a 
child's  leap.  You  too,  stranger,  if,  as  I  judge  from  the  traces, 
you  have  come  along  the  edge  of  the  precipice  which  the  earth- 


26  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

slide  hath  laid  bare,  ought  to  be  far  beyond  such  weakness, 
since  surely  you  must  be  well  entitled  to  call  yourself  a 
cragsman.' 

*  I  might  have  called  myself  so  half  an  hour  since,'  answered 
Arthur ;  *  but  I  think  I  shall  hardly  venture  to  assume  the 
name  in  future.' 

*Be  not  downcast,'  said  his  kind  adviser,  'for  a  passing 
qualm,  which  will  at  times  cloud  the  spirit  and  dazzle  the  eye- 
sight of  the  bravest  and  most  experienced.  Raise  yourself 
upon  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  and  advance  closer  to  the  rock  out 
of  which  it  grows.  Observe  the  place  well.  It  is  easy  for  you, 
when  you  have  attained  the  lower  part  of  the  projecting  stem, 
to  gain  by  one  bold  step  the  solid  rock  upon  which  I  stand, 
after  which  there  is  no  danger  or  difficulty  worthy  of  mention 
to  a  young  man  whose  limbs  are  whole  and  whose  courage  is 
active.' 

'My  limbs  are  indeed  sound,'  replied  the  youth;  'but  I  am 
ashamed  to  think  how  much  my  courage  is  broken.  Yet  I  will 
not  disgrace  the  interest  you  have  taken  in  an  unhappy  wan- 
derer by  listening  longer  to  the  dastardly  suggestions  of  a 
feeling  which  till  to-day  has  been  a  stranger  to  my  bosom.' 

The  maiden  looked  on  him  anxiously,  and  with  much 
interest,  as,  raising  himself  cautiously,  and  moving  along  the 
trunk  of  the  tree,  which  lay  nearly  horizontal  from  the  rock, 
and  seemed  to  bend  as  he  changed  his  posture,  the  youth  at 
length  stood  upright  within  what,  on  level  ground,  had  been 
but  an  extended  stride  to  the  cliff  on  which  the  Swiss  maiden 
stood.  But,  instead  of  being  a  step  to  be  taken  on  the  level 
and  firm  earth,  it  was  one  which  must  cross  a  dark  abyss,  at 
the  bottom  of  which  a  torrent  surged  and  boiled  with  incredible 
fury.  Arthur's  knees  knocked  against  each  other,  his  feet 
became  of  lead,  and  seemed  no  longer  at  his  command ;  and 
he  experienced,  in  a  stronger  degree  than  ever,  that  unnerv- 
ing influence  which  those  who  have  been  overwhelmed  by  it  in 
a  situation  of  like  peril  never  can  forget,  and  which  others, 
happily  strangers  to  its  power,  may  have  difficulty  even  in 
comprehending. 

The  young  woman  discerned  his  emotion,  and  foresaw  its 
probable  consequences.  As  the  only  mode  in  her  power  to 
restore  his  confidence,  she  sprung  lightly  from  the  rock  to  the 
stem  of  the  tree,  on  which  she  alighted  with  the  ease  and 
security  of  a  bird,  and  in  the  same  instant  back  to  the  cliff; 
and  extending  her  hand  to  the  stranger,  'My  arm,'  she  said, 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  27 

*is  but  a  slight  balustrade;  yet  do  but  step  forward  with 
resolution,  and  you  will  find  it  as  secure  as  the  battlement  of 
Berne/  But  shame  now  overcame  terror  so  much,  that  Arthur, 
declining  assistance  which  he  could  not  have  accepted  without 
feeling  lowered  in  his  own  eyes,  took  heart  of  grace,  and  suc- 
cessfully achieved  the  formidable  step  which  placed  him  upon 
the  same  clifi"  with  his  kind  assistant. 

To  seize  her  hand  and  raise  it  to  his  lips,  in  affectionate 
token  of  gratitude  and  respect,  was  naturally  the  youth's  first 
action ;  nor  was  it  possible  for  the  maiden  to  have  prevented 
him  from  doing  so  without  assuming  a  degree  of  prudery  foreign 
to  her  character,  and  occasioning  a  ceremonious  debate  upon  a 
matter  of  no  great  consequence,  where  the  scene  of  action  was 
a  rock  scarce  five  feet  long  by  three  in  width,  and  which  looked 
down  upon  a  torrent  roaring  some  hundred  feet  below. 


CHAPTER  III 

Cursed  be  the  gold  and  silver,  which  persuade 
Weak  man  to  follow  far  fatiguing  trade. 
The  lily,  peace,  outshines  the  silver  store  ; 
And  life  is  dearer  than  the  golden  ore. 
Yet  money  tempts  us  o'er  the  desert  brown, 
To  every  distant  mart  and  wealthy  town. 

Hassan,  or  the  Camel-driver. 

ylRTHUR  PHILIPSON  and  Anne  of  Geierstein,   thus 

/-\  placed  together  in  a  situation  which  brought  them  into 
-i-  ^  the  closest  possible  contiguity,  felt  a  slight  degree  of 
embarrassment;  the  young  man,  doubtless,  from  the  fear  of 
being  judged  a  poltroon  in  the  eyes  of  the  maiden  by  whom  he 
had  been  rescued,  and  the  young  woman,  perhaps,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  exertion  she  had  made,  or  a  sense  of  being  placed 
suddenly  in  a  situation  of  such  proximity  to  the  youth  whose 
life  she  had  probably  saved. 

'And  now,  maiden,'  said  Arthur,  'I  must  repair  to  my 
father.  The  life  which  I  owe  to  your  assistance  can  scarce  be 
called  welcome  to  me  unless  I  am  permitted  to  hasten  to  his 
rescue.' 

He  was  here  interrupted  by  another  bugle-blast,  which 
seemed  to  come  from  the  quarter  in  which  the  elder  Philipson 
and  his  guide  had  been  left  by  their  young  and  daring  com- 
panion. Arthur  looked  in  that  direction;  but  the  platform, 
which  he  had  seen  but  imperfectly  from  the  tree,  when  he  was 
perched  in  that  place  of  refuge,  was  invisible  from  the  rock  on 
which  they  now  stood. 

'It  would  cost  me  nothing  to  step  back  on  yonder  root,' 
said  the  young  woman,  '  to  spy  from  thence  whether  I  could 
see  aught  of  your  friends.  But  I  am  convinced  they  are  under 
safer  guidance  than  either  yours  or  mine ;  for  the  horn  an- 
nounces that  my  uncle,  or  some  of  my  young  kinsmen,  have 
reached  them.  They  are  by  this  time  on  their  way  to  the 
Geierstein,  to  which,  with  your  permission,  I  will  become  your 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  29 

guide ;  for  you  may  be  assured  that  my  uncle  Arnold  will  not 
allow  you  to  pass  farther  to-day ;  and  we  shall  but  lose  time 
by  endeavouring  to  find  your  friends,  who,  situated  where  you 
say  you  left  them,  will  reach  the  Geierstein  sooner  than  we 
shall.  Follow  me,  then,  or  I  must  suppose  you  weary  of  my 
guidance.' 

'  Sooner  suppose  me  weary  of  the  life  which  your  guidance 
has  in  all  probability  saved,'  replied  Arthur,  and  prepared  to 
attend  her,  at  the  same  time  taking  a  view  of  her  dress  and 
person  which  confirmed  the  satisfaction  he  had  in  following 
such  a  conductor,  and  which  we  shall  take  the  liberty  to  detail 
somewhat  more  minutely  than  he  could  do  at  that  time. 

An  upper  vest,  neither  so  close  as  to  display  the  person,  a 
habit  forbidden  by  the  sumptuary  laws  of  the  canton,  nor  so 
loose  as  to  be  an  incumbrance  in  walking  or  climbing,  covered 
a  close  tunic  of  a  difierent  colour,  and  came  do^vn  beneath  the 
middle  of  the  leg,  but  suffered  the  ankle,  in  all  its  fine  propor- 
tions, to  be  completely  visible.  The  foot  was  defended  by  a 
sandal,  the  point  of  which  was  turned  upwards,  and  the  cross- 
ings and  knots  of  the  strings  which  secured  it  on  the  front  of 
the  leg  were  garnished  with  silver  rings.  The  upper  vest  was 
gathered  round  the  middle  by  a  sash  of  party-coloured  silk, 
ornamented  with  twisted  threads  of  gold;  while  the  tunic, 
open  at  the  throat,  permitted  the  shape  and  exquisite  white- 
ness of  a  well-formed  neck  to  be  visible  at  the  collar,  and  for 
an  inch  or  two  beneath.  The  small  portion  of  the  throat  and 
bosom  thus  exposed  was  even  more  brilliantly  fair  than  was 
promised  by  the  countenance,  which  last  bore  some  marks  of 
having  been  freely  exposed  to  the  sun  and  air,  by  no  means  in 
a  degree  to  diminish  its  beauty,  but  just  so  far  as  to  show  that 
the  maiden  possessed  the  health  which  is  purchased  by  habits 
of  rural  exercise.  Her  long  fair  hair  fell  down  in  a  profusion 
of  curls  on  each  side  of  a  face  whose  blue  eyes,  lovely  features, 
and  dignified  simplicity  of  expression  implied  at  once  a  char- 
acter of  gentleness  and  of  the  self-relying  resolution  of  a  mind 
too  virtuous  to  suspect  evil  and  too  noble  to  fear  it.  Above 
these  locks,  beauty's  natural  and  most  beseeming  ornament  — 
or  rather,  I  should  say,  amongst  them  —  was  placed  the  small 
bonnet,  which,  from  its  size,  little  answered  the  purpose  of  pro- 
tecting the  head,  but  served  to  exercise  the  ingenuity  of  the 
fair  wearer,  who  had  not  failed,  according  to  the  prevailing 
custom  of  the  mountain  maidens,  to  decorate  the  tiny  cap  with 
a  heron's  feather,  and  the  then  unusual  luxury  of  a  small  and 


30  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

thin  chain  of  gold,  long  enough  to  encircle  the  cap  four  or  five 
times,  and  having  the  ends  secured  under  a  broad  medal  of  the 
same  costly  metal. 

I  have  only  to  add,  that  the  stature  of  the  young  person  was 
something  above  the  common  size,  and  that  the  whole  contour 
of  her  form,  without  being  in  the  slightest  degree  masculine, 
resembled  that  of  Minerva  rather  than  the  proud  beauties  of 
Juno  or  the  yielding  graces  of  Venus.  The  noble  brow,  the 
well-formed  and  active  limbs,  the  firm  and  yet  light  step, 
above  all,  the  total  absence  of  anything  resembling  the  con- 
sciousness of  personal  beauty,  and  the  open  and  candid  look, 
which  seemed  desirous  of  knowing  nothing  that  was  hidden, 
and  conscious  that  she  herself  had  nothing  to  hide,  were  traits 
not  unworthy  of  the  goddess  of  wisdom  and  of  chastity. 

The  road  which  the  young  Englishman  pursued,  under  the 
guidance  of  this  beautiful  young  woman,  was  difficult  and 
unequal,  but  could  not  be  termed  dangerous,  at  least  in  com- 
parison to  those  precipices  over  which  Arthur  had  recently 
passed.  It  was,  in  fact,  a  continuation  of  the  path  which  the 
slip  or  slide  of  earth,  so  often  mentioned,  had  interrupted ;  and 
although  it  had  sustained  damage  in  several  places  at  the 
period  of  the  same  earthquake,  yet  there  were  marks  of  these 
having  been  already  repaired  in  such  a  rude  manner  as  made 
the  way  sufficient  for  the  necessary  intercourse  of  a  people  so 
indifferent  as  the  Swiss  to  smooth  or  level  paths.  The  maiden 
also  gave  Arthur  to  understand  that  the  present  road  took  a 
circuit  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  that  on  which  he  was  lately 
travelling,  and  that,  if  he  and  his  companions  had  turned  off  at 
the  place  where  this  new  track  united  with  the  old  pathway, 
they  would  have  escaped  the  danger  which  had  attended  their 
keeping  the  road  by  the  verge  of  the  precipice. 

The  path  which  they  now  pursued  was  rather  averted  from 
the  torrent,  though  still  within  hearing  of  its  sullen  thunders, 
which  seemed  to  increase  as  they  ascended  parallel  to  its 
course,  till  suddenly  the  road,  turning  short,  and  directing  itself 
straight  upon  the  old  castle,  brought  them  within  sight  of  one 
of  the  most  splendid  and  awful  scenes  of  that  mountainous 
region. 

The  ancient  tower  of  Geierstein,  though  neither  extensive 
nor  distinguished  by  architectural  ornament,  possessed  an  air 
of  terrible  dignity  by  its  position  on  the  very  verge  of  the 
opposite  bank  of  the  torrent,  which,  just  at  the  angle  of  the 
rock  on  which  the  ruins  are  situated,  falls  sheer  over  a  cascade 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  31 

of  nearly  a  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  then  rushes  down  the 
defile,  through  a  trough  of  living  rock,  which  perhaps  its 
waves  have  heen  deepening  since  time  itself  had  a  commence- 
ment. Facing,  and  at  the  same  time  looking  down  upon,  this 
eternal  roar  of  waters,  stood  the  old  tower,  built  so  close  to  the 
verge  of  the  precipice,  that  the  buttresses  with  which  the  archi- 
tect had  strengthened  the  foundation  seemed  a  part  of  the 
solid  rock  itself,  and  a  continuation  of  its  perpendicular  ascent. 
As  usual  throughout  Europe  in  the  feudal  times,  the  principal 
part  of  the  building  was  a  massive  square  pile,  the  decayed 
summit  of  which  was  rendered  picturesque  by  flanking  turrets 
of  different  sizes  and  heights,  some  round,  some  angular,  some 
ruinous,  some  tolerably  entire,  varying  the  outline  of  the  build- 
ing as  seen  against  the  stormy  sky. 

A  projecting  sallyport,  descending  by  a  flight  of  steps  from 
the  tower,  had  in  former  times  given  access  to  a  bridge  con- 
necting the  castle  with  that  side  of  the  stream  on  which  Arthur 
Philipson  and  his  fair  guide  now  stood.  A  single  arch,  or 
rather  one  rib  of  an  arch,  consisting  of  single  stones,  still  re- 
mained, and  spanned  the  river  immediately  in  front  of  the 
waterfall.  In  former  times  this  arch  had  served  for  the  support 
of  a  wooden  drawbridge,  of  more  convenient  breadth,  and  of 
such  length  and  weight  as  must  have  been  rather  unmanage- 
able, had  it  not  been  lowered  on  some  solid  resting-place.  It 
is  true,  the  device  was  attended  with  this  inconvenience,  that, 
even  when  the  drawbridge  was  up,  there  remained  a  possibility 
of  approaching  the  castle  gate  by  means  of  this  narrow  rib  of 
stone.  But,  as  it  was  not  above  eighteen  inches  broad,  and 
could  only  admit  the  daring  foe  who  should  traverse  it  to  a 
doorway  regularly  defended  by  gate  and  portcullis,  and  having 
flanking  turrets  and  projections,  from  which  stones,  darts, 
melted  lead,  and  scalding  water  might  be  poured  down  on  the 
soldiery  who  should  venture  to  approach  Geierstein  by  this 
precarious  access,  the  possibility  of  such  an  attempt  was  not 
considered  as  diminishing  the  security  of  the  garrison. 

In  the  time  we  treat  of,  the  castle  being  entirely  ruined  and 
dismantled,  and  the  door,  drawbridge,  and  portcullis  gone,  the 
dilapidated  gateway,  and  the  slender  arch  which  connected  the 
two  sides  of  the  stream,  were  used  as  a  means  of  communica- 
tion between  the  banks  of  the  river  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
neighbourhood,  whom  habit  had  familiarised  with  the  dangerous 
nature  of  the  passage. 

Arthur  Philipson  had,  in  the  meantime,  like  a  good  bow 


32  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

when  new  strung,  regained  the  elasticity  of  feeling  and  character 
which  was  natural  to  him.  It  was  not,  indeed,  with  perfect  com- 
posure that  he  followed  his  guide,  as  she  tripped  lightly  over 
the  narrow  arch,  composed  of  rugged  stones,  and  rendered  wet 
and  slippery  with  the  perpetual  drizzle  of  the  mist  issuing  from 
the  neighbouring  cascade.  Nor  was  it  without  apprehension 
that  he  found  himself  performing  this  perilous  feat  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  waterfall  itself,  whose  deafening  roar  he 
could  not  exclude  from  his  ears,  though  he  took  care  not  to 
turn  his  head  towards  its  terrors,  lest  his  brain  should  again  be 
dizzied  by  the  tumult  of  the  waters  as  they  shot  forward  from 
the  precipice  above,  and  plunged  themselves  into  what  seemed 
the  fathomless  gulf  below.  But,  notwithstanding  these  feelings 
of  agitation,  the  natural  shame  to  show  cowardice  where  a 
beautiful  young  female  exhibited  so  much  indifference,  and  the 
desire  to  regain  his  character  in  the  eyes  of  his  guide,  prevented 
Arthur  from  again  giving  way  to  the  appalling  feelings  by 
which  he  had  been  overwhelmed  a  short  time  before.  Stepping 
firmly  on,  yet  cautiously  supporting  himself  with  his  piked 
staff,  he  traced  the  light  footsteps  of  his  guide  along  the  bridge 
of  dread,  and  followed  her  through  the  ruined  sallyport,  to  which 
they  ascended  by  stairs  which  were  equally  dilapidated. 

The  gateway  admitted  them  into  a  mass  of  ruins,  formerly 
a  sort  of  courtyard  to  the  donjon,  which  rose  in  gloomy  dignity 
above  the  wreck  of  what  had  been  works  destined  for  external 
defence,  or  buildings  for  internal  accommodation.  They  quickly 
passed  through  these  ruins,  over  which  vegetation  had  thrown 
a  wild  mantle  of  ivy  and  other  creeping  shrubs,  and  issued 
from  them  through  the  main  gate  of  the  castle  into  one  of 
those  spots  in  which  nature  often  embosoms  her  sweetest 
charms,  in  the  midst  of  districts  chiefly  characterised  by  waste 
and  desolation. 

The  castle  in  this  aspect  also  rose  considerably  above  the 
neighbouring  ground,  but  the  elevation  of  the  site,  which 
towards  the  torrent  was  an  abrupt  rock,  was  on  this  side  a 
steep  eminence,  which  had  been  scarped  like  a  modern  glacis, 
to  render  the  building  more  secure.  It  was  now  covered  with 
young  trees  and  bushes,  out  of  which  the  tower  itself  seemed 
to  rise  in  ruined  dignity.  Beyond  this  hanging  thicket  the 
view  was  of  a  very  different  character.  A  piece  of  ground, 
amounting  to  more  than  a  hundred  acres,  seemed  scooped  out 
of  the  rocks  and  mountains,  which,  retaining  the  same  savage 
character  with  the  tract  in  which  the  travellers  had  been  that 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  SS 

morning  bewildered,  inclosed,  and  as  it  were  defended,  a  limited 
space  of  a  mild  and  fertile  character.  The  surface  of  this  little 
domain  was  considerably  varied,  but  its  general  aspect  was  a 
gentle  slope  to  the  south-west. 

The  principal  object  which  it  presented  was  a  large  house 
composed  of  huge  logs,  without  any  pretence  to  form  or  sym- 
metry, but  indicating,  by  the  smoke  which  arose  from  it,  as 
well  as  the  extent  of  the  neighbouring  offices,  and  the  im- 
proved and  cultivated  character  of  the  fields  around,  that  it 
was  the  abode,  not  of  splendour  certainly,  but  of  ease  and  com- 
petence. An  orchard  of  thriving  fruit-trees  extended  to  the 
southward  of  the  dwelling.  Groves  of  walnut  and  chestnut 
grew  in  stately  array,  and  even  a  vineyard,  of  three  or  four 
acres,  showed  that  the  cultivation  of  the  grape  was  understood 
and  practised.  It  is  now  universal  in  Switzerland,  but  was,  in 
those  early  days,  almost  exclusively  confined  to  a  few  more 
fortunate  proprietors,  who  had  the  rare  advantage  of  uniting 
intelligence  with  opulent,  or  at  least  easy,  circumstances. 

There  were  fair  ranges  of  pasture-fields,  into  which  the  fine 
race  of  cattle  which  constitute  the  pride  and  wealth  of  the 
Swiss  mountaineers  had  been  brought  down  from  the  more 
Alpine  grazings  where  they  had  fed  during  the  summer,  to  be 
near  shelter  and  protection  when  the  autumnal  storms  might 
be  expected.  On  some  selected  spots,  the  lambs  of  the  last 
season  fed  in  plenty  and  security,  and  in  others  huge  trees,  the 
natural  growth  of  the  soil,  were  suffered  to  remain,  from  mo- 
tives of  convenience  probably,  that  they  might  be  at  hand  when 
timber  was  required  for  domestic  use,  but  giving,  at  the  same 
time,  a  woodland  character  to  a  scene  otherwise  agricultural. 
Through  this  mountain  paradise  the  course  of  a  small  brook 
might  be  traced,  now  showing  itself  to  the  sun,  which  had  by 
this  time  dispelled  the  fogs,  now  intimating  its  course  by  its 
gently  sloping  banks,  clothed  in  some  places  with  lofty  trees, 
or  concealing  itself  under  thickets  of  hawthorn  and  nut  bushes. 
This  stream,  by  a  devious  and  gentle  course,  which  seemed  to 
indicate  a  reluctance  to  leave  this  quiet  region,  found  its  way 
at  length  out  of  the  sequestered  domain,  and,  like  a  youth 
hurrying  from  the  gay  and  tranquil  sports  of  boyhood  into  the 
wild  career  of  active  life,  finally  united  itself  with  the  bois- 
terous torrent,  which,  breaking  down  tumultuously  from  the 
mountains,  shook  the  ancient  tower  of  Geierstein  as  it  rolled 
down  the  adjacent  rock,  and  then  rushed  howling  through  the 
defile  in  which  our  youthful  traveller  had  wellnigh  lost  his  life. 

VOL.  XXIII  —  3 


34  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

Eager  as  the  younger  Philipson  was  to  rejoin  his  father,  he 
could  not  help  pausing  for  a  moment  to  wonder  how  so  much 
beauty  should  be  found  amid  such  scenes  of  horror,  and  to  look 
back  on  the  tower  of  Geierstein,  and  on  the  huge  cliff  from 
which  it  derived  its  name,  as  if  to  ascertain,  by  the  sight  of 
these  distinguished  landmarks,  that  he  was  actually  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  savage  wild  where  he  had  encountered  so 
much  danger  and  terror.  Yet  so  narrow  were  the  limits  of  this 
cultivated  farm,  that  it  hardly  required  such  a  retrospect  to 
satisfy  the  spectator  that  the  spot  susceptible  of  human  in- 
dustry, and  on  which  it  seemed  that  a  considerable  degree  of 
labour  had  been  bestowed,  bore  a  very  small  proportion  to  the 
wilderness  in  which  it  was  situated.  It  was  on  all  sides  sur- 
rounded by  lofty  hills,  in  some  places  rising  into  walls  of  rock, 
in  others  clothed  with  dark  and  savage  forests  of  the  pine  and 
the  larch,  of  primeval  antiquity.  Above  these,  from  the  emi- 
nence on  which  the  tower  was  situated,  could  be  seen  the  almost 
rosy  hue  in  which  an  immense  glacier  threw  back  the  sun ; 
and,  still  higher  over  the  frozen  surface  of  that  icy  sea,  arose, 
in  silent  dignity,  the  pale  peaks  of  those  countless  mountains 
on  which  the  snow  eternally  rests. 

What  we  have  taken  some  time  to  describe,  occupied  young 
Philipson  only  for  one  or  two  hurried  minutes ;  for  on  a  sloping 
lawn,  which  was  in  front  of  the  farm-house,  as  the  mansion 
might  be  properly  styled,  he  saw  five  or  six  persons,  the  fore- 
most of  whom,  from  his  gait,  his  dress,  and  the  form  of  his  cap, 
he  could  easily  distinguish  as  the  parent  whom  he  hardly 
expected  at  one  time  to  have  again  beheld. 

He  followed,  therefore,  his  conductress  with  a  glad  step,  as 
she  led  the  way  down  the  steep  ascent  on  which  the  ruined 
tower  was  situated.  They  approached  the  group  whom  Arthur 
had  noticed,  the  foremost  of  which  was  his  father,  who  hastily 
came  forward  to  meet  him,  in  company  with  another  person,  of 
advanced  age,  and  stature  wellnigh  gigantic,  and  who,  from  his 
simple  yet  majestic  bearing,  seemed  the  worthy  countryman  of 
William  Tell,  Stauffacher,  Winkelried,  and  other  Swiss  worthies, 
whose  stout  hearts  and  hardy  arms  had,  in  the  preceding  age, 
vindicated  against  countless  hosts  their  personal  liberty  and 
the  independence  of  their  country. 

With  a  natural  courtesy,  as  if  to  spare  the  father  and  son 
many  witnesses  to  a  meeting  which  must  be  attended  with 
emotion,  the  Landamman  himself,  in  walking  forward  with  the 
elder  Philipson,  signed  to  those  by  whom  he  was  attended,  all 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  B5 

of  whom  seemed  young  men,  to  remain  behind.  They  remained 
accordingly,  examining,  as  it  seemed,  the  guide  Antonio,  upon 
the  adventures  of  the  strangers.  Anne,  the  conductress  of 
Arthur  Philipson,  had  but  time  to  say  to  him,  '  Yonder  old  man 
is  my  uncle,  Arnold  Biederman,  and  these  young  men  are  my 
kinsmen,'  when  the  former,  with  the  elder  traveller,  were  close 
before  them.  The  Landamman,  with  the  same  propriety  of 
feeling  which  he  had  before  displayed,  signed  to  his  niece  to 
move  a  little  aside ;  yet,  while  requiring  from  her  an  account 
of  her  morning's  expedition,  he  watched  the  interview  of  the 
father  and  son  with  as  much  curiosity  as  his  natural  sense  of 
complaisance  permitted  him  to  testify.  It  was  of  a  character 
different  from  what  he  had  expected. 

We  have  already  described  the  elder  Philipson  as  a  father 
devotedly  attached  to  his  son,  ready  to  rush  on  death  when  he 
had  expected  to  lose  him,  and  equally  overjoyed  at  heart, 
doubtless,  to  see  him  again  restored  to  his  affections.  It  might 
have  been  therefore  expected  that  the  father  and  son  would 
have  rushed  into  each  other's  arms,  and  such  probably  was  the 
scene  which  Arnold  Biederman  expected  to  have  witnessed. 

But  the  English  traveller,  in  common  with  many  of  his 
countrymen,  covered  keen  and  quick  feelings  with  much  appear- 
ance of  coldness  and  reserve,  and  thought  it  a  weakness  to  give 
unlimited  sway  even  to  the  influence  of  the  most  amiable  and 
most  natural  emotions.  Eminently  handsome  in  youth,  his 
countenance,  still  fine  in  his  more  advanced  years,  had  an 
expression  which  intimated  an  unwillingness  either  to  yield  to 
passion  or  encourage  confidence.  His  pace,  when  he  first  be- 
held his  son,  had  been  quickened  by  the  natural  wish  to  meet 
him ;  but  he  slackened  it  as  they  drew  near  to  each  other,  and 
when  they  met,  said  in  a  tone  rather  of  censure  and  admoni- 
tion than  affection  — '  Arthur,  may  the  saints  forgive  the  pain 
thou  hast  this  day  given  me.' 

*  Amen,'  said  the  youth.  *  I  must  need  pardon  since  I  have 
given  you  pain.     Believe,  however,  that  I  acted  for  the  best.' 

*  It  is  well,  Arthur,  that  in  acting  for  the  best,  according  to 
your  forward  wiU,  you  have  not  encountered  the  worst.' 

*  That  I  have  not,'  answered  the  son,  with  the  same  devoted 
and  patient  submission,  'is  owing  to  this  maiden,'  pointing  to 
Anne,  who  stood  at  a  few  paces'  distance,  desirous,  perhaps,  of 
avoiding  to  witness  the  reproof  of  the  father,  which  might  seem 
to  her  rather  ill-timed  and  unreasonable. 

'To  the  maiden  my  thanks  shall  be  rendered,'  said  his 


36  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

father,  'when  I  can  study  how  to  pay  them  in  an  adequate 
manner ;  but  is  it  well  or  comely,  think  you,  that  you  should 
receive  from  a  maiden  the  succour  which  it  is  your  duty  as  a 
man  to  extend  to  the  weaker  sex  1 ' 

Arthur  held  down  his  head  and  blushed  deeply,  while  Arnold 
Biederman,  sympathising  with  his  feelings,  stepped  forward 
and  mingled  in  the  conversation. 

VNever  be  abashed,  my  young  guest,  that  you  have  been 
indebted  for  aught  of  counsel  or  assistance  to  a  maiden  of 
Unterwalden.  Know  that  the  freedom  of  their  country  owes 
no  less  to  the  firmness  and  wisdom  of  her  daughters  than  to 
that  of  her  sons.  And  you,  my  elder  guest,  who  have,  I  judge, 
seen  many  years,  and  various  lands,  must  have  often  known 
examples  how  the  strong  are  saved  by  the  help  of  the  weak, 
the  proud  by  the  aid  of  the  humble.' 

'I  have  at  least  learned,'  said  the  Englishman,  *to  debate 
no  point  unnecessarily  with  the  host  who  has  kindly  harboured 
me';  and  after  one  glance  at  his  son,  which  seemed  to  kindle 
with  the  fondest  affection,  he  resumed,  as  the  party  turned 
back  towards  the  house,  a  conversation  which  he  had  been 
maintaining  with  his  new  acquaintance  before  Arthur  and  the 
maiden  had  joined  them. 

Arthur  had  in  the  meantime  an  opportunity  of  observing 
the  figure  and  features  of  their  Swiss  landlord,  which,  I  have 
already  hinted,  exhibited  a  primeval  simplicity  mixed  with  a 
certain  rude  dignity,  arising  out  of  its  masculine  and  unaffected 
character.  The  dress  did  not  greatly  differ  in  form  from  the 
habit  of  the  female  which  we  have  described.  It  consisted  of 
an  upper  frock,  shaped  like  the  modern  shirt,  and  only  open  at 
the  bosom,  worn  above  a  tunic  or  under  doublet.  But  the 
man's  vest  was  considerably  shorter  in  the  skirts,  which  did 
not  come  lower  down  than  the  kilt  of  the  Scottish  Highlander ; 
a  species  of  boots  or  buskins  rose  above  the  knee,  and  the 
person  was  thus  entirely  clothed.  A  bonnet  made  of  the  fur 
of  the  marten,  and  garnished  with  a  silver  medal,  was  the  only 
part  of  the  dress  which  displayed  anything  like  ornament ;  the 
broad  belt  which  gathered  the  garment  together  was  of  buff 
leather,  secured  by  a  large  brass  buckle. 

But  the  figure  of  him  who  wore  this  homely  attire,  which 
seemed  almost  wholly  composed  of  the  fleeces  of  the  mountain 
sheep  and  the  spoils  of  animals  of  the  chase,  would  have  com- 
manded respect  wherever  the  wearer  had  presented  himself, 
especially  in  those  warlike  days,  when  men  were  judged  of 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  57 

according  to  the  promising  or  unpromising  qualities  of  their 
thewes  and  sinews.  To  those  who  looked  at  Arnold  Biederman 
in  this  point  of  view,  he  displayed  the  size  and  form,  the  broad 
shoulders  and  prominent  muscles,  of  a  Hercules.  But  to  such 
as  looked  rather  at  his  countenance,  the  steady,  sagacious 
features,  open  front,  large  blue  eyes,  and  deliberate  resolution 
which  it  expressed  more  resembled  the  character  of  the  fabled 
King  of  Gods  and  Men.  He  was  attended  by  several  sons  and 
relatives,  young  men,  among  whom  he  walked,  receiving,  as 
his  undeniable  due,  respect  and  obedience,  similar  to  that  which 
a  herd  of  deer  are  observed  to  render  to  the  monarch  stag. 

While  Arnold  Biederman  walked  and  spoke  with  the  elder 
stranger,  the  young  men  seemed  closely  to  scrutinise  Arthur, 
and  occasionally  interrogated  in  whispers  their  relation  Anne, 
receiving  from  her  brief  and  impatient  answers,  which  rather 
excited  than  appeased  the  vein  of  merriment  in  which  the 
mountaineers  indulged,  very  much,  as  it  seemed  to  the  young 
Englishman,  at  the  expense  of  their  guest.  To  feel  himself 
exposed  to  derision  was  not  softened  by  the  reflection,  that  in 
such  a  society  it  would  probably  be  attached  to  all  who  could 
not  tread  on  the  edge  of  a  precipice  with  a  step  as  firm  and 
undismayed  as  if  they  walked  the  street  of  a  city.  However 
unreasonable  ridicule  may  be,  it  is  always  unpleasing  to  be 
subjected  to  it,  but  more  particularly  is  it  distressing  to  a 
young  man,  where  beauty  is  a  listener.  It  was  some  consola- 
tion to  Arthur  that  he  thought  the  maiden  certainly  did  not 
enjoy  the  jest,  and  seemed  by  word  and  look  to  reprove  the 
rudeness  of  her  companions ;  but  this  he  feared  was  only  from 
a  sense  of  humanity. 

'She,  too,  must  despise  me,'  he  thought,  'though  civility, 
unknown  to  these  ill-taught  boors,  has  enabled  her  to  conceal 
contempt  under  the  guise  of  pity.  She  can  but  judge  of  me 
from  that  which  she  has  seen ;  if  she  could  know  me  better 
(such  was  his  proud  thought),  she  might  perhaps  rank  me  more 
highly.' 

As  the  travellers  entered  the  habitation  of  Arnold  Biederman, 
they  found  preparations  made  in  a  large  apartment,  which 
served  the  purpose  of  general  accommodation,  for  a  homely  but 
plentiful  meal.  A  glance  round  the  walls  showed  the  imple- 
ments of  agriculture  and  the  chase ;  but  the  eyes  of  the  elder 
Philipson  rested  upon  a  leathern  corslet,  a  long  heavy  halberd, 
and  a  two-handed  sword,  which  were  displayed  as  a  sort  of 
trophy.     Near  these,  but  covered  with  dust,  unfurbished  and 


38  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

neglected,  hung  a  helmet,  with  a  visor,  such  as  was  used  by- 
knights  and  men-at-arms.  The  golden  garland,  or  coronal, 
twisted  around  it,  though  sorely  tarnished,  indicated  noble 
birth  and  rank;  and  the  crest,  which  was  a  vulture  of  the 
species  which  gave  name  to  the  old  castle  and  its  adjacent 
cliff,  suggested  various  conjectures  to  the  English  guest,  who, 
acquainted  in  a  great  measure  with  the  history  of  the  Swiss 
revolution,  made  little  doubt  that  in  this  relic  he  saw  some 
trophy  of  the  ancient  warfare  between  the  inhabitants  of  these 
mountains  and  the  feudal  lord  to  whom  they  had  of  yore 
appertained. 

A  summons  to  the  hospitable  board  disturbed  the  train  of 
the  English  merchant's  reflections ;  and  a  large  company,  com- 
prising the  whole  inhabitants  of  every  description  that  lived 
under  Biederman's  roof,  sat  down  to  a  plentiful  repast  of  goat's 
flesh,  fish,  preparations  of  milk  of  various  kinds,  cheese,  and, 
for  the  upper  mess,  the  venison  of  a  young  chamois.  The 
Landamman  himself  did  the  honours  of  the  table  with  great 
kindness  and  simplicity,  and  urged  the  strangers  to  show,  by 
their  appetite,  that  they  thought  themselves  as  welcome  as  he 
desired  to  make  them.  During  the  repast  he  carried  on  a  con- 
versation with  his  elder  guest,  while  the  younger  people  at 
table,  as  well  as  the  menials,  ate  in  modesty  and  silence.  Ere 
the  dinner  was  finished,  a  figure  crossed  on  the  outside  of 
the  large  window  which  lighted  the  eating-hall,  the  sight  of 
which  seemed  to  occasion  a  lively  sensation  amongst  such  as 
observed  it 

*  Who  passed  ? '  said  old  Biederman  to  those  seated  opposite 
to  the  window. 

*It  is  our  cousin,  Rudolph  of  Donnerhugel,'  answered  one  of 
Arnold's  sons  eagerly. 

The  annunciation  seemed  to  give  great  pleasure  to  the 
younger  part  of  the  company,  especially  the  sons  of  the  Lan- 
damman ;  while  the  head  of  the  family  only  said  with  a  grave, 
calm  voice  — '  Your  kinsman  is  welcome  -,  tell  him  so,  and  let 
him  come  hither.' 

Two  or  three  arose  for  this  purpose,  as  if  there  had  been  a 
contention  among  them  who  should  do  the  honours  of  the 
house  to  the  new  guest.  He  entered  presently  —  a  young  man, 
unusually  tall,  well-proportioned,  and  active,  with  a  quantity 
of  dark-brown  locks  curling  around  his  face,  together  with 
mustachios  of  the  same,  or  rather  a  still  darker,  hue.  His  cap 
was  small  considering  the  quantity  of  his  t\iickly  clustering 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  39 

hair,  and  rather  might  be  said  to  hang  upon  one  side  of  his 
head  than  to  cover  it.  His  clothes  were  of  the  same  form  and 
general  fashion  as  those  of  Arnold,  but  made  of  much  finer 
cloth,  the  manufacture  of  the  German  loom,  and  ornamented 
in  a  rich  and  fanciful  manner.  One  sleeve  of  his  vest  was  dark 
green,  curiously  laced  and  embroidered  with  devices  in  silver, 
while  the  rest  of  the  garment  was  scarlet.  His  sash  was 
twisted  and  netted  with  gold,  and  besides  answering  the  purpose 
of  a  belt,  by  securing  the  upper  garment  round  his  waist,  sus- 
tained a  silver-hilted  poniard.  His  finery  was  completed  by 
boots,  the  tips  of  which  were  so  long  as  to  turn  upwards  with  a 
peak,  after  a  prevailing  fashion  in  the  Middle  Ages.  A  golden 
chain  hung  round  his  neck,  and  sustained  a  large  medallion  of 
the  same  metal. 

This  young  gallant  was  instantly  surrounded  by  the  race  of 
Biederman,  among  whom  he  appeared  to  be  considered  as  the 
model  upon  which  the  Swiss  youth  ought  to  build  themselves, 
and  whose  gait,  opinions,  dress,  and  manners  all  ought  to 
follow  who  would  keep  pace  with  the  fashion  of  the  day,  in 
which  he  reigned  an  acknowledged  and  unrivalled  example. 

By  two  persons  in  the  company,  however,  it  seemed  to 
Arthur  Philipson  that  this  young  man  was  received  with  less 
distinguished  marks  of  regard  than  those  with  which  he  was 
hailed  by  the  general  voice  of  the  youths  present.  Arnold 
Biederman  himself  was  at  least  no  way  warm  in  welcoming  the 
young  Bernese,  for  such  was  Rudolpfrs  country.  The  young 
man  drew  from  his  bosom  a  sealed  packet,  which  he  delivered 
to  the  Landamman  with  demonstrations  of  great  respect,  and 
seemed  to  expect  that  Arnold,  when  he  had  broken  the  seal 
and  perused  the  contents,  would  say  something  to  him  on  the 
subject.  But  the  patriarch  only  bade  him  be  seated  and 
partake  of  their  meal,  and  Rudolph  found  a  place  accordingly 
next  to  Anne  of  Geierstein,  which  was  yielded  to  him  by  one  of 
the  sons  of  Arnold  with  ready  courtesy. 

It  seemed  also  to  the  observant  young  Englishman  that  the 
newcomer  was  received  with  marked  coldness  by  the  maiden, 
to  whom  he  appeared  eager  and  solicitous  to  pay  his  compli- 
ments, by  whose  side  he  had  contrived  to  seat  himself  at  the 
well-furnished  board,  and  to  whom  he  seemed  more  anxious  to 
recommend  himself  than  to  partake  of  the  food  which  it  ofibred. 
He  observed  the  gallant  whisper  her  and  look  towards  him. 
Anne  gave  a  very  brief  reply ;  but  one  of  the  young  Biedermans, 
who  sat  on  his  other  hand,  was  probably  more  communicative, 


40  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

as  the  youths  hoth  laughed,  and  the  maiden  again  seemed  dis- 
concerted, and  blushed  with  displeasure. 

'  Had  I  either  of  these  sons  of  the  mountain,'  thought  young 
Philipson,  '  upon  six  yards  of  level  greensward,  if  there  be  so 
much  flat  ground  in  this  country,  methinks  I  were  more  likely 
to  spoil  their  mirth  than  to  furnish  food  for  it.  It  is  as 
marvellous  to  see  such  conceited  boors  under  the  same  roof 
with  so  courteous  and  amiable  a  damsel  as  it  would  be  to  see 
one  of  their  shaggy  bears  dance  a  rigadoon  with  a  maiden  like 
the  daughter  of  our  host.  Well,  I  need  not  concern  myself  more 
than  I  can  help  about  her  beauty  or  their  breeding,  since  morn- 
ing will  separate  me  from  them  for  ever.' 

As  these  reflections  passed  through  the  young  guest's  mind, 
the  father  of  the  family  called  for  a  cup  of  wine,  and  having 
required  the  two  strangers  to  pledge  him  in  a  maple  cup  of 
considerable  size,  he  sent  a  similar  goblet  to  Rudolph  Donner- 
hugel.  'Yet  you,'  he  said,  'kinsman,  are  used  to  more  highly 
flavoured  wine  than  the  half-ripened  grapes  of  Geierstein  can 
supply.  Would  you  think  it,  sir  merchant,'  he  continued, 
addressing  Philipson,  '  there  are  burghers  of  Berne  who  send  for 
wine  for  their  own  drinking  both  to  France  and  Germany  ? ' 

'My  kinsman  disapproves  of  that,'  replied  Rudolph;  'yet 
every  place  is  not  blessed  with  vineyards  like  Geierstein,  which 
produces  all  that  heart  and  eye  can  desire.'  This  was  said 
with  a  glance  at  his  fair  companion,  who  did  not  appear  to  take 
the  compliment,  while  the  envoy  of  Berne  proceeded  — '  But  our 
wealthier  burghers,  having  some  superfluous  crowns,  think  it  no 
extravagance  to  barter  them  for  a  goblet  of  better  wine  than 
our  own  mountains  can  produce.  But  we  will  be  more  frugal 
when  we  have  at  our  disposal  tuns  of  the  wine  of  Burgundy, 
for  the  mere  trouble  of  transporting  them.' 

'How  mean  you  by  that,  cousin  Rudolph?'  said  Arnold 
Biederman. 

'  Methinks,  respected  kinsman,'  answered  the  Bernese,  '  your 
letters  must  have  told  you  that  our  Diet  is  likely  to  declare 
war  against  Burgundy  ? ' 

'  Ah  !  and  you  know,  then,  the  contents  of  my  letters  ? '  said 
Arnold  — '  another  mark  how  times  are  changed  at  Berne  and 
with  the  Diet  of  Switzerland.  When  did  all  her  grey-haired 
statesmen  die,  that  our  allies  should  have  brought  beardless 
boys  into  their  councils?' 

'The  Senate  of  Berne  and  the  Diet  of  the  Confederacy,'  said 
the  young  man,  partly  abashed,  partly  in  vindication  of  what 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  41 

he  had  before  spoken,  'allow  the  young  men  to  know  their 
purposes,  since  it  is  they  by  whom  they  must  be  executed. 
The  head  which  thinks  may  well  confide  in  the  hand  that 
strikes.' 

'  Not  till  the  moment  of  dealing  the  blow,  young  man,'  said 
Arnold  Biederman,  sternly.  '  What  kind  of  counsellor  is  he 
who  talks  loosely  the  secrets  of  state  affairs  before  women  and 
strangers?  Go,  Rudolph,  and  all  of  ye,  and  try  by  manly 
exercises  which  is  best  fitted  to  serve  your  country,  rather 
than  give  your  judgment  upon  her  measures.  Hold,  young 
man,'  he  continued,  addressing  Arthur,  who  had  arisen,  'this 
does  not  apply  to  you,  who  are  unused  to  mountain  travel,  and 
require  rest  after  it.' 

'Under  your  favour,  sir,  not  so,'  said  the  elder  stranger; 
'  we  hold  in  England  that  the  best  refreshment  after  we  have 
been  exhausted  by  one  species  of  exercise  is  to  betake  ourselves 
to  another;  as  riding,  for  example,  affords  more  relief  to  one 
fatigued  by  walking  than  a  bed  of  down  would.  So,  if  your 
young  men  will  permit,  my  son  will  join  their  exercises.' 

'He  will  find  them  rough  playmates,'  answered  the  Switzer; 
'but  be  it  at  your  pleasure.' 

The  young  men  went  out  accordingly  to  the  open  lawn  in 
front  of  the  house.  Anne  of  Geierstein,  and  some  females  of 
the  household,  sat  down  on  a  bank  to  judge  which  performed 
best,  and  shouts,  loud  laughing,  and  all  that  announces  the 
riot  of  juvenile  spirits  occupied  by  manly  sports,  was  soon 
after  heard  by  the  two  seniors,  as  they  sat  together  in  the 
hall.  The  master  of  the  house  resumed  the  wine-flask,  and, 
having  filled  the  cup  of  his  guest,  poured  the  remainder  into 
his  own. 

'At  an  age,  worthy  stranger,'  he  said,  'when  the  blood 
grows  colder  and  the  feelings  heavier,  a  moderate  cup  of  wine 
brings  back  light  thoughts  and  makes  the  limbs  supple.  Yet 
I  almost  wish  that  Noah  had  never  planted  the  grape,  when  of 
late  years  I  have  seen  with  my  own  eyes  my  countrymen  swill 
wine  like  very  Germans,  till  they  were  like  gorged  swine, 
incapable  of  sense,  thought,  or  motion.' 

'It  is  a  vice,'  said  the  Englishman,  'which  I  have  observed 
gains  ground  in  your  country,  where  within  a  century  I  have 
heard  it  was  totally  unknown.' 

'  It  was  so,'  said  the  Swiss, '  for  wine  was  seldom  made  at  home, 
and  never  imported  from  abroad;  for,  indeed,  none  possessed 
the  means  of  purchasing  that,  or  aught  else,  which  our  valleys 


42  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

produce  not.  But  our  wars  and  our  victories  have  gained  us 
wealth  as  well  as  fame;  and  in  the  poor  thoughts  of  one 
Switzer  at  least,  we  had  been  better  without  both,  had  we  not 
also  gained  liberty  by  the  same  exertion.  It  is  something, 
however,  that  commerce  may  occasionally  send  into  our  remote 
mountains  a  sensible  visitor  like  yourself,  worthy  guest,  whose 
discourse  shows  him  to  be  a  man  of  sagacity  and  discernment ; 
for  though  I  love  not  the  increasing  taste  for  trinkets  and 
gewgaws  which  you  merchants  introduce,  yet  I  acknowledge 
that  we  simple  mountaineers  learn  from  men  like  you  more  of 
the  world  around  us  than  we  could  acquire  by  our  own  exer- 
tions. You  are  bound,  you  say,  to  Bale,  and  thence  to  the 
Duke  of  Burgundy's  leaguer  1 ' 

*I  am  so,  my  worthy  host,'  said  the  merchant;  Hhat  is, 
providing  I  can  perform  my  journey  with  safety.' 

'Your  safety,  good  friend,  may  be  assured,  if  you  list  to 
tarry  for  two  or  three  days ;  for  in  that  space  I  shall  myself 
take  the  journey,  and  with  such  an  escort  as  will  prevent  any 
risk  of  danger.  You  will  find  in  me  a  sure  and  faithful  guide, 
and  I  shall  learn  from  you  much  of  other  countries,  which  it 
concerns  me  to  know  better  than  I  do.     Is  it  a  bargain  ? ' 

*  The  proposal  is  too  much  to  my  advantage  to  be  refused,' 
said  the  Englishman;  'but  may  I  ask  the  purpose  of  your 
journey  ? ' 

*I  chid  yonder  boy  but  now,'  answered  Biederman,  'for 
speaking  on  public  affairs  without  reflection,  and  before  the 
whole  family;  but  our  tidings  and  my  errand  need  not  be 
concealed  from  a  considerate  person  like  you,  who  must  indeed 
soon  learn  it  from  public  rumour.  You  know  doubtless  the 
mutual  hatred  which  subsists  between  Louis  XL  of  France  and 
Charles  of  Burgundy,  whom  men  call  the  Bold;  and  having 
seen  these  countries,  as  I  understand  from  your  former  dis- 
course, you  are  probably  well  aware  of  the  various  contending 
interests  which,  besides  the  personal  hatred  of  the  sovereigns, 
make  them  irreconcilable  enemies.  Now  Louis,  whom  the 
world  cannot  match  for  craft  and  subtlety,  is  using  all  his 
influence,  by  distributions  of  large  sums  amongst  some  of  the 
counsellors  of  our  neighbours  of  Berne,  by  pouring  treasures 
into  the  exchequer  of  that  state  itself,  by  holding  out  the  bait 
of  emolument  to  the  old  men,  and  encouraging  the  violence  of 
the  young,  to  urge  the  Bernese  into  a  war  with  the  Duke. 
Charles,  on  the  other  hand,  is  acting,  as  he  frequently  does, 
exactly  as  Louis  could  have  wished.     Our  neighbours  and  allies 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  4S 

of  Berne  do  not,  like  us  of  the  Forest  Cantons,  confine  them- 
selves to  pasture  or  agriculture,  but  carry  on  considerable 
commerce,  which  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  has  in  various  in- 
stances interrupted,  by  the  exactions  and  violence  of  his  officers 
in  the  frontier  towns,  as  is  doubtless  well  known  to  you.' 

'Unquestionably,'  answered  the  merchant;  'they  are  uni- 
versally regarded  as  vexatious.' 

'You  will  not  then  be  surprised  that,  solicited  by  the  one 
sovereign  and  aggrieved  by  the  other,  proud  of  past  victories 
and  ambitious  of  additional  power,  Berne  and  the  City  Cantons 
of  our  confederacy,  whose  representatives,  from  their  superior 
wealth  and  better  education,  have  more  to  say  in  our  Diet 
than  we  of  the  Forests,  should  be  bent  upon  war,  from  which 
it  has  hitherto  happened  that  the  republic  has  always  derived 
victory,  wealth,  and  increase  of  territory.' 

'Ay,  worthy  host,  and  of  glory,'  said  Philipson,  interrupting 
him  with  some  enthusiasm ;  '  I  wonder  not  that  the  brave 
youths  of  your  states  are  willing  to  thrust  themselves  upon 
new  wars,  since  their  past  victories  have  been  so  brilliant  and 
so  far  famed.' 

'You  are  no  wise  merchant,  kind  guest,'  answered  the  host, 
'  if  you  regard  success  in  former  desperate  undertakings  as  an 
encouragement  to  future  rashness.  Let  us  make  a  better  use 
of  past  victories.  When  we  fought  for  our  liberties  God 
blessed  our  arms;  but  will  He  do  so  if  we  fight  either  for 
aggrandisement  or  for  the  gold  of  France  ? ' 

'  Your  doubt  is  just,'  said  the  merchant,  more  sedately ; 
'  but  suppose  you  draw  the  sword  to  put  an  end  to  the  vexa- 
tious exactions  of  Burgundy  1 ' 

'  Hear  me,  good  fiiend,'  answered  the  Switzer ;  '  it  may  be 
that  we  of  the  Forest  Cantons  think  too  little  of  those  matters 
of  trade  which  so  much  engross  the  attention  of  the  burghers 
of  Berne.  Yet  we  will  not  desert  our  neighbours  and  allies  in 
a  just  quarrel ;  and  it  is  wellnigh  settled  that  a  deputation 
shall  be  sent  to  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  to  request  redress.  In 
this  embassy  the  General  Diet  now  assembled  at  Berne  have 
requested  that  I  should  take  some  share ;  and  hence  the  journey 
in  which  I  propose  that  you  should  accompany  me.' 

'  It  wiU  be  much  to  my  satisfaction  to  travel  in  your 
company,  worthy  host,'  said  the  Englishman.  '  But,  as  I  am 
a  true  man,  methinks  your  port  and  figure  resemble  an  envoy 
of  defiance  rather  than  a  messenger  of  peace.' 

'And  I  too  might  say,'  replied  the  Switzer,   'that  your 


44  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

language  and  sentiments,  my  honoured  guest,  rather  belong  to 
the  sword  than  the  measuring  wand.' 

'  I  was  bred  to  the  sword,  worthy  sir,  before  I  took  the  cloth- 
yard  in  my  hand,'  replied  Philipson,  smiling,  'and  it  may  be 
I  am  still  more  partial  to  my  old  trade  than  wisdom  would 
altogether  recommend.' 

*I  thought  so,'  said  Arnold;  'but  then  you  fought  most 
likely  under  your  country's  banners  against  a  foreign  and 
national  enemy ;  and  in  that  case  I  will  admit  that  war  has 
something  in  it  which  elevates  the  heart  above  the  due  sense 
it  should  entertain  of  the  calamity  inflicted  and  endured  by 
God's  creatures  on  each  side.  But  the  warfare  in  which  I  was 
engaged  had  no  such  gilding.  It  was  the  miserable  war  of 
Zurich,  where  Switzers  levelled  their  pikes  against  the  bosoms 
of  their  own  countrymen ;  and  quarter  was  asked  and  refused 
in  the  same  kindly  mountain  language.  From  such  remem- 
brances, your  warlike  recollections  are  probably  free.' 

The  merchant  hung  down  his  head  and  pressed  his  fore- 
head with  his  hand,  as  one  to  whom  the  most  painful  thoughts 
were  suddenly  recalled. 

'Alas!'  he  said,  'I  deserve  to  feel  the  pain  which  your 
words  inflict.  What  nation  can  know  the  woes  of  England  that 
has  not  felt  them  —  what  eye  can  estimate  them  which  has  not 
seen  a  land  torn  and  bleeding  with  the  strife  of  two  desperate 
factions,  battles  fought  in  every  province,  plains  heaped  with 
slain,  and  scaffolds  drenched  in  blood?  Even  in  your  quiet 
valleys,  methinks,  you  may  have  heard  of  the  Civil  Wars  of 
England  ? ' 

'I  do  indeed  bethink  me,'  said  the  Switzer,  'that  England 
had  lost  her  possessions  in  France  during  many  years  of  bloody 
internal  wars  concerning  the  colour  of  a  rose  —  was  it  not  ?  But 
these  are  ended.' 

'  For  the  present,'  answered  Philipson,  'it  would  seem  so.' 

As  he  spoke,  there  was  a  knock  at  the  door.  The  master  of 
the  house  said,  'Come  in';  the  door  opened,  and,  with  the 
reverence  which  was  expected  from  young  persons  towards  their 
elders  in  those  pastoral  regions,  the  fine  form  of  Anne  of  Geier- 
stein  presented  itself. 


CHAPTER   IV 

And  now  the  well-known  bow  the  master  bore, 
Turn'd  on  all  sides,  and  view'd  it  o'er  and  o'er  ; 
Whilst  some  deriding,  '  How  he  turns  the  bow' ! 
Some  other  like  it  sure  the  man  must  know, 
Or  else  would  copy,  or  in  bows  he  deals ; 
Perhaps  he  makes  them,  or  perhaps  he  steals.' 

Pope's  Homer^s  Odyssey. 

THE  fair  maiden  approached  with  the  half-bashful,  half- 
important  look  which  sits  so  well  on  a  young  house- 
keeper, when  she  is  at  once  proud  and  ashamed  of  the 
matronly  duties  she  is  called  upon  to  discharge,  and  whispered 
something  in  her  uncle's  ear. 

'  And  could  not  the  idle-pated  boys  have  brought  their  own 
errand  ?  What  is  it  they  want  that  they  cannot  ask  themselves, 
but  must  send  thee  to  beg  it  for  themi  Had  it  been  any- 
thing reasonable,  I  should  have  heard  it  dinned  into  my  ears 
by  forty  voices,  so  modest  are  our  Swiss  youths  become  nowa- 
days.' She  stooped  forward,  and  again  whispered  in  his  ear, 
as  he  fondly  stroked  her  curling  tresses  with  his  ample  hand, 
and  replied,  '  The  bow  of  Buttisholz,  my  dear  ?  Why,  the  youths 
surely  are  not  grown  stronger  since  last  year,  when  none  of 
them  could  bend  it?  But  yonder  it  hangs  with  its  three 
arrows.  Who  is  the  wise  champion  that  is  challenger  at  a 
game  where  he  is  sure  to  be  foiled  ? ' 

'  It  is  this  gentleman's  son,  sir,'  said  the  maiden,  '  who,  not 
being  able  to  contend  with  my  cousins  in  running,  leaping, 
hurling  the  bar,  or  pitching  the  stone,  has  challenged  them  to 
ride,  or  to  shoot  with  the  English  long-bow.' 

'To  ride,'  said  the  venerable  Swiss,  'were  difficult,  where 
there  are  no  horses,  and  no  level  ground  to  career  upon  if  there 
were.  But  an  English  bow  he  shall  have,  since  we  happen  to 
possess  one.  Take  it  to  the  young  men,  my  niece,  with  the 
three  arrows,  and  say  to  them  from  me,  iJiat  he  who  bends  it 


46  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

will  do  more  than  William  Tell  or  the  renowned  Stauffacher 
could  have  done.' 

As  the  maiden  went  to  take  the  weapon  from  the  place 
where  it  hucg  amid  the  group  of  arms  which  Philipson  had 
formerly  remarked,  the  English  merchant  observed,  '  that,  were 
the  minstrels  of  his  land  to  assign  her  occupation,  so  fair  a 
maiden  should  be  bow-bearer  to  none  but  the  little  blind  god 
Cupid.' 

*  I  will  have  nothing  of  the  blind  god  Cupid,'  said  Arnold, 
hastily,  yet  half  laughing  at  the  same  time ;  '  we  have  been 
deafened  with  the  foolery  of  minstrels  and  strolling  minne- 
singers, ever  since  the  wandering  knaves  have  found  there 
were  pence  to  be  gathered  among  us.  A  Swiss  maiden  should 
only  sing  Albert  Tschudi's  ballads,  or  the  merry  lay  of  the 
going  out  and  return  of  the  cows  to  and  from  the  mountain 
pastures.' 

While  he  spoke,  the  damsel  had  selected  from  the  arms  a 
bow  of  extraordinary  strength,  considerably  above  six  feet  in 
length,  with  three  shafts  of  a  cloth-yard  long.  Philipson  asked 
to  look  at  the  weapons,  and  examined  them  closely.  '  It  is  a 
tough  piece  of  yew,'  he  said.  *  I  should  know  it,  since  I  have 
dealt  in  such  commodities  in  my  time;  but  when  I  was  of 
Arthur's  age,  I  could  have  bent  it  as  easily  as  a  boy  bends  a 
willow.' 

'  We  are  too  old  to  boast  like  boys,'  said  Arnold  Biederman, 
with  something  of  a  reproving  glance  at  his  companion. 
*  Carry  the  bow  to  thy  kinsman,  Anne,  and  let  him  who  can 
bend  it  say  he  beat  Arnold  Biederman.'  As  he  spoke,  he 
turned  his  eyes  on  the  spare  yet  muscular  figure  of  the  English- 
man, then  again  glanced  down  on  his  own  stately  person. 

'You  must  remember,  good  my  host,'  said  Philipson,  'that 
weapons  are  wielded  not  by  strength,  but  by  art  and  sleight  of 
hand.  What  most  I  wonder  at  is  to  see  in  this  place  a  bow 
made  by  Matthew  of  Doncaster,  a  bowyer  who  lived  at  least  a 
hundred  years  ago,  remarkable  for  the  great  toughness  and 
strength  of  the  weapons  which  he  made,  and  which  are  now 
become  somewhat  unmanageable,  even  by  an  English  yeoman.' 

'  How  are  you  assured  of  the  maker's  name,  worthy  guest  1 ' 
replied  the  Swiss. 

'By  old  Matthew's  mark,'  answered  the  Englishman,  'and 
his  initials  cut  upon  the  bow.  I  wonder  not  a  little  to  find 
such  a  weapon  here,  and  in  such  good  preservation.' 

'  It  has  been  regularly  waxed,  oiled,  and  kept  in  good  order,' 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  47 

said  the  Landamman,  *  being  preserved  as  a  trophy  of  a  memor- 
able day.  It  would  but  grieve  you  to  recount  its  early  history, 
since  it  was  taken  in  a  day  fatal  to  your  country.' 

'  My  country,'  said  the  Englishman,  composedly,  'has  gained 
so  many  victories,  that  her  children  may  well  aiford  to  hear  of  a 
single  defeat.  But  I  knew  not  that  the  English  ever  warred  in 
Switzerland.' 

'Not  precisely  as  a  nation,'  answered  Biederman;  'but  it 
was  in  my  grandsire's  days  that  a  large  body  of  roving  soldiers, 
composed  of  men  from  almost  all  countries,  but  especially 
Englishmen,  Normans,  and  Gascons,  poured  down  on  the 
Aargau  and  the  districts  adjacent.  They  were  headed  by  a 
great  warrior  called  lugelram  de  Couci,  who  pretended  some 
claims  upon  the  Duke  of  Austria,  to  satisfy  which  he  ravaged 
indifferently  the  Austrian  territory  and  that  of  our  Confederacy. 
His  soldiers  were  hired  warriors  —  Free  Companions  they  called 
themselves  —  that  seemed  to  belong  to  no  country,  and  were  as 
brave  in  the  fight  as  they  were  cruel  in  their  depredations. 
Some  pause  in  the  constant  wars  betwixt  France  and  England 
had  deprived  many  of  those  bands  of  their  ordinary  employ- 
ment, and  battle  being  their  element,  they  came  to  seek  it 
among  our  valleys.  The  air  seemed  on  fire  with  the  blaze  of 
their  armour,  and  the  very  sun  was  darkened  at  the  flight  of 
their  arrows.  They  did  us  much  evil,  and  we  sustained  the 
loss  of  more  than  one  battle.  But  we  met  them  at  Buttisholz, 
and  mingled  the  blood  of  many  a  rider,  noble  as  they  were 
called  and  esteemed,  with  that  of  their  horses.  The  huge 
mound  that  covers  the  bones  of  man  and  steed  is  still  called 
the  English  barrow.' 

Philipson  was  silent  for  a  minute  or  two,  and  then  replied, 
'  Then  let  them  sleep  in  peace.  If  they  did  wrong,  they  paid 
for  it  with  their  lives ;  and  that  is  all  the  ransom  that  mortal 
man  can  render  for  his  transgressions.  Heaven  pardon  their 
souls ! ' 

'Amen,'  replied  the  Landamman,  'and  those  of  all  brave 
men !  My  grandsire  was  at  the  battle,  and  was  held  to  have 
demeaned  himself  like  a  good  soldier ;  and  this  bow  has  been 
ever  since  carefully  preserved  in  our  family.  There  is  a 
prophecy  about  it,  but  I  hold  it  not  worthy  of  remark.' 

Philipson  was  al30ut  to  inquire  farther,  but  was  interrupted 
by  a  loud  cry  of  surprise  and  astonishment  from  without. 

'  I  must  out,'  said  Biederman,  'and  see  what  these  wild  lads 
are  doing.    It  is  not  now  as  formerly  in  this  land,  when  the 


48  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

young  dared  not  judge  for  themselves  till  the  old  man's  voice 
had  been  heard.' 

He  went  forth  from  the  lodge,  followed  by  his  guest.  The 
company  who  had  witnessed  the  games  were  all  talking, 
shouting,  and  disputing  in  the  same  breath;  while  Arthur 
Philipson  stood  a  little  apart  from  the  rest,  leaning  on  the 
unbent  bow  with  apparent  indifference.  At  the  sight  of  the 
Landamman  all  were  silent. 

'  What  means  this  unwonted  clamour  ? '  he  said,  raising  a 
voice  to  which  all  were  accustomed  to  listen  with  reverence. 
'Rudiger,'  addressing  the  eldest  of  his  sons,  'has  the  young 
stranger  bent  the  bow?' 

'He  has,  father,'  said  Rudiger,  'and  he  has  hit  the  mark. 
Three  such  shots  were  never  shot  by  William  Tell.' 

*  It  was  chance  —  pure  chance,'  said  the  young  Swiss  from 
Berne.  '  No  human  skill  could  have  done  it,  much  less  a  puny 
lad,  baffled  in  all  besides  that  he  attempted  among  us.' 

'But  what  has  been  done?'  said  the  Landamman.  'Nay, 
speak  not  all  at  once.  Anne  of  Geierstein,  thou  hast  more  sense 
and  breeding  than  these  boys  —  tell  me  how  the  game  has  gone.' 

The  maiden  seemed  a  little  confused  at  this  appeal ;  but 
answered  with  a  composed  and  downcast  look  — 

'  The  mark  was,  as  usual,  a  pigeon  to  a  pole.  All  the  young 
men,  except  the  stranger,  had  practised  at  it  with  the  cross- 
bow and  long-bow,  without  hitting  it.  When  I  brought  out 
the  bow  of  Buttisholz,  I  offered  it  first  to  my  kinsmen.  None 
would  accept  of  it,  saying,  respected  uncle,  that  a  task  too  great 
for  you  must  be  far  too  difficult  for  them.' 

'  They  said  well,'  answered  Arnold  Biederman ;  '  and  the 
stranger,  did  he  string  the  bow?' 

'  He  did,  my  uncle,  but  first  he  wrote  something  on  a  piece 
of  paper,  and  placed  it  in  my  hands.' 

'  And  did  he  shoot  and  hit  the  mark  ? '  continued  the 
surprised  Switzer. 

'He  first,'  said  the  maiden,  'removed  the  pole  a  hundred 
yards  farther  than  the  post  where  it  stood.' 

'  Singular  ! '  said  the  Landamman,  '  that  is  double  the  usual 
distance.' 

'He  then  drew  the  bow,'  continued  the  maiden,  'and  shot 
off,  one  after  another,  with  incredible  rapidity,  the  three  arrows 
which  he  had  stuck  into  his  belt.  The  first  cleft  the  pole,  the 
second  cut  the  string,  the  third  killed  the  poor  bird  as  it  rose 
into  the  air.' 


The  third  killed  the  poor  bird  as  it  rose  into  the  air.'  " 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  49 

*  By  St.  Mary  of  Einsiedlen,'  said  the  old  man,  looking  up 
in  amaze,  '  if  your  eyes  really  saw  this,  they  saw  such  archery 
as  was  never  before  witnessed  in  the  Forest  States  ! ' 

'  I  say  nay  to  that,  my  revered  kinsman,'  replied  Rudolph 
Donnerhugel,  whose  vexation  was  apparent ;  '  it  was  mere 
chance,  if  not  illusion  or  witchery.' 

'What  say'st  thou  of  it  thyself,  Arthur,'  said  his  father, 
half  smiling ;  '  was  thy  success  by  chance  or  skill  1 ' 

'My  father,'  said  the  young  man,  '  I  need  not  tell  you  that 
I  have  done  but  an  ordinary  feat  for  an  English  bowman. 
Nor  do  I  speak  to  gratify  that  misproud  and  ignorant  young 
man;  but  to  our  worthy  host  and  his  family  I  make  answer. 
This  youth  charges  me  with  having  deluded  men's  eyes,  or  hit 
the  mark  by  chance.  For  illusion,  yonder  is  the  pierced  pole, 
the  severed  string,  and  the  slain  bird,  they  will  endure  sight 
and  handling ;  and,  besides,  if  that  fair  maiden  will  open  the 
note  which  I  put  into  her  hand,  she  will  find  evidence  to  assure 
you  that,  even  before  I  drew  the  bow,  I  had  fixed  upon  the 
three  marks  which  I  designed  to  aim  at.' 

'  Produce  the  scroll,  good  niece,'  said  her  uncle,  *  and  end 
the  controversy.' 

'  Nay,  under  your  favour,  my  worthy  host,'  said  Arthur,  '  it 
is  but  some  foolish  rhymes  addressed  to  the  maiden's  own  eye.' 

'And,  under  your  favour,  sir,'  said  the  Landamman,  'what- 
soever is  fit  for  my  niece's  eyes  may  greet  my  ears.' 

He  took  the  scroll  fi*om  the  maiden,  who  blushed  deeply 
when  she  resigned  it.  The  character  in  which  it  was  written 
was  so  fine  that  the  Landamman  in  surprise  exclaimed,  'No 
clerk  of  St.  Gall  could  have  written  more  fairly.  Strange,'  he 
again  repeated,  '  that  a  hand  which  could  draw  so  true  a  bow 
should  have  the  cunning  to  form  characters  so  fair.'  He  then 
exclaimed  anew,  '  Ha !  verses,  by  Our  Lady !  What !  have  we 
minstrels  disguised  as  traders  ? '  He  then  opened  the  scroll, 
and  read  the  following  lines :  — 

*  *  *  If  I  hit  mast,  and  line,  and  bird 
An  English  archer  keeps  his  word. 
Ah  !  maiden,  didst  thou  aim  at  me, 
A  single  glance  were  worth  the  three." 

Here  is  rare  rhyming,  my  worthy  guest,'  said  the  Landam- 
man, shaking  his  head —  'fine  words  to  make  foolish  maidens 
fain.  But  do  not  excuse  it ;  it  is  your  country  fashion,  and  we 
know  how  to  treat  it  as  such.'  And  without  further  allusion 
VOL.  xxm — 4 


50  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

to  the  concluding  couplet,  the  reading  of  which  threw  the  poet 
as  well  as  the  object  of  the  verses  into  some  discomposure,  he 
added  gravely,  '  You  must  now  allow,  Rudolph  Donnerhugel, 
that  the  stranger  has  fairly  attained  the  three  marks  which  he 
proposed  to  himself.' 

'  That  he  has  attained  them  is  plain,'  answered  the  party  to 
whom  the  appeal  was  made ;  '  but  that  he  has  done  this  fairly 
may  be  doubted,  if  there  are  such  things  as  witchery  and  magic 
in  this  world.' 

*  Shame  —  shame,  Rudolph  ! '  said  the  Landamman  ;  *  can 
spleen  and  envy  have  weight  with  so  brave  a  man  as  you,  from 
whom  my  sons  ought  to  learn  temperance,  forbearance,  and 
candour,  as  well  as  manly  courage  and  dexterity  1 ' 

The  Bernese  coloured  high  under  this  rebuke,  to  which  he 
ventured  not  to  attempt  a  reply. 

*  To  your  sports  till  sunset,  my  children,'  continued  Arnold  ; 
*  while  I  and  my  worthy  friend  occupy  our  time  with  a  walk, 
for  which  the  evening  is  now  favourable.' 

'  Methinks,'  said  the  English  merchant,  *  I  should  like  to 
visit  the  ruins  of  yonder  castle,  situated  by  the  waterfall. 
There  is  something  of  melancholy  dignity  in  such  a  scene  which 
reconciles  us  to  the  misfortunes  of  our  own  time,  by  showing 
that  our  ancestors,  who  were  perhaps  more  intelligent  or  more 
powerful,  have,  nevertheless,  in  their  days,  encountered  cares 
and  distresses  similar  to  those  which  we  now  groan  under.' 

'Have  with  you,  my  worthy  sir,'  replied  his  host;  'there 
will  be  time  also  upon  the  road  to  talk  of  things  that  you 
should  know.' 

The  slow  step  of  the  two  elderly  men  carried  them  by 
degrees  from  the  limits  of  the  lawn,  where  shout,  and  laugh, 
and  halloo  were  again  revived.  Young  Philipson,  whose  suc- 
cess as  an  archer  had  obliterated  all  recollection  of  former 
failure,  made  other  attempts  to  mingle  in  the  manly  pastimes 
of  the  country,  and  gained  a  considerable  portion  of  applause. 
The  young  men  who  had  but  lately  been  so  ready  to  join  in 
ridiculing  him  now  began  to  consider  him  as  a  person  to  be 
looked  up  and  appealed  to ;  while  Rudolph  Donnerhugel  saw 
with  resentment  that  he  was  no  longer  without  a  rival  in  the 
opinion  of  his  male  cousins,  perhaps  of  his  kinswoman  also. 
Tne  proud  young  Swiss  reflected  with  bitterness  that  he  had 
fetllen  under  the  Landamman's  displeasure,  declined  in  reputa- 
tion with  his  companions,  of  whom  he  had  been  hitherto  the 
leader,  and  even  hazarded  a  more  mortifying  disappointment  — 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  51 

all,  as  his  swelling  heart  expressed  it,  through  the  means  of  a 
stranger  stripling,  of  neither  blood  nor  fame,  who  could  not 
st^p  from  one  rock  to  another  without  the  encouragement  of 
a  girl. 

In  this  irritated  mood,  he  drew  near  the  young  EngHshman, 
and  while  he  seemed  to  address  him  on  the  chances  of  the 
sports  which  were  still  proceeding,  he  conveyed,  in  a  whisper, 
matter  of  a  far  different  tendency.  Striking  Arthur's  shoulder 
with  the  frank  bluntness  of  a  mountaineer,  he  said  aloud, 
'  Yonder  bolt  of  Ernest  whistled  through  the  air  like  a  falcon 
when  she  stoops  down  the  wind ! '  And  then  proceeded  in  a 
deep  low  voice,  *  You  merchants  sell  gloves  —  do  you  ever  deal 
in  single  gauntlets,  or  only  in  pairs  ? ' 

'  I  sell  no  single  glove,'  said  Arthur,  instantly  apprehending 
him,  and  sufficiently  disposed  to  resent  the  scornful  looks  of 
the  Bernese  champion  during  the  time  of  their  meal,  and  his 
having  but  lately  imputed  his  successful  shooting  to  chance 
or  sorcery  —  *  I  sell  no  single  glove,  sir,  but  never  refuse  to 
exchange  one.' 

'You  are  apt,  I  see,'  said  Rudolph;  'look  at  the  players 
while  I  speak,  or  our  purpose  will  be  suspected.  You  are 
quicker,  I  say,  of  apprehension  than  I  expected.  If  we  exchange 
our  gloves,  how  shall  each  redeem  his  own  ? ' 

*  With  our  good  swords,'  said  Arthur  Philipson. 

'  In  armour,  or  as  we  stand  % ' 

'  Even  as  we  stand,'  said  Arthur.  *  I  have  no  better  garment 
of  proof  than  this  doublet,  no  other  weapon  than  my  sword ; 
and  these,  sir  Switzer,  I  hold  enough  for  the  purpose.  Name 
time  and  place.' 

'The  old  castle-court  at  Geierstein,'  replied  Rudolph,  'the 
time  sunrise;  but  we  are  watched.  I  have  lost  my  wager, 
stranger,'  he  added,  speaking  aloud,  and  in  an  indifferent  tone 
of  voice,  *  since  Ulrick  has  made  a  cast  beyond  Ernest.  There 
is  my  glove,  in  token  I  shall  not  forget  the  flask  of  wine.' 

'And  there  is  mine,'  said  Arthur,  'in  token  I  will  drink  it 
with  you  merrily.' 

Thus,  amid  the  peaceful  though  rough  sports  of  their  com- 
panions, did  these  two  hot-headed  youths  contrive  to  indulge 
their  hostile  inclinations  towards  each  other,  by  settHng  a 
meeting  of  deadly  purpose. 


CHAPTER  V 


I  was  one 
Who  loved  the  greenwood  bank  and  lowing  herd. 
The  russet  prize,  the  lowly  peasant's  life, 
Season'd  with  sweet  content,  more  than  the  halls 
Where  revellers  feast  to  fever-height.     Believe  me, 
There  ne'er  was  poison  mix'd  in  maple  bowl. 

Anonymous. 

LEAVING  the  young  persons  engaged  with  their  sports, 
the  Landamman  of  Unterwalden  and  the  elder  Philipson 
-^  walked  on  in  company,  conversing  chiefly  on  the  politi- 
cal relations  of  France,  England,  and  Burgundy,  until  the  con- 
versation was  changed  as  they  entered  the  gate  of  the  old 
castle-yard  of  Geierstein,  where  arose  the  lonely  and  dismantled 
keep,  surrounded  by  the  ruins  of  other  buildings. 

'  This  has  been  a  proud  and  a  strong  habitation  in  its  time,' 
said  Philipson. 

'They  were  a  proud  and  powerful  race  who  held  it,'  replied 
the  Landamman.  'The  Counts  of  Geierstein  have  a  history 
which  runs  back  to  the  times  of  the  old  Helvetians,  and  their 
deeds  are  reported  to  have  matched  their  antiquity.  But  all 
earthly  grandeur  has  an  end,  and  free  men  tread  the  ruins  of 
their  feudal  castle,  at  the  most  distant  sight  of  whose  turrets 
serfs  were  formerly  obliged  to  vail  their  bonnets,  if  they  would 
escape  the  chastisement  of  contumacious  rebels.' 

'  I  observe,'  said  the  merchant,  '  engraved  on  a  stone  under 
yonder  turret,  the  crest,  I  conceive,  of  the  last  family  —  a  vul- 
ture perched  on  a  rock,  descriptive,  doubtless,  of  the  word 
Geierstein.' 

'  It  is  the  ancient  cognizance  of  the  family,'  replied  Arnold 
Biederman,  '  and,  as  you  say,  expresses  the  name  of  the  castle, 
being  the  same  with  that  of  the  knights  who  so  long  held  it.' 

'I  also  remarked  in  your  hall,'  continued  the  merchant,  'a 
helmet  bearing  the  same  crest  or  cognizance.    It  is,  I  suppose, 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  53 

a  trophy  of  the  triumph  of  the  Swiss  peasants  over  the  nobles 
of  Geierstein,  as  the  English  bow  is  preserved  in  remembrance 
of  the  battle  of  Buttisholz  ? ' 

'  And  you,  fair  sir,'  replied  the  Landamman,  '  would,  I  per- 
ceive, from  the  prejudices  of  your  education,  regard  the  one 
victory  with  as  unpleasant  feelings  as  the  other  ?  Strange, 
that  the  veneration  for  rank  should  be  rooted  even  in  the 
minds  of  those  who  have  no  claim  to  share  it !  But  clear  up 
your  downcast  brows,  my  worthy  guest,  and  be  assured  that, 
though  many  a  proud  baron's  castle,  when  Sv/itzerland  threw 
off  the  bonds  of  feudal  slavery,  was  plundered  and  destroyed 
by  the  just  vengeance  of  an  incensed  people,  such  was  not  the 
lot  of  Geierstein.  The  blood  of  the  old  possessors  of  these 
towers  still  flows  in  the  veins  of  him  by  whom  these  lands  are 
occupied.' 

*  What  am  I  to  understand  by  that,  sir  Landamman  1 '  said 
Philipson.     '  Are  not  you  yourself  the  occupant  of  this  place  1 ' 

'And  you  think,  probably,'  answered  Arnold,  'because  I  live 
like  the  other  shepherds,  wear  homespun  grey,  and  hold  the 
plough  with  my  own  hands,  I  cannot  be  descended  from  a  line 
of  ancient  nobility  ?  This  land  holds  many  such  gentle  peasants, 
sir  merchant ;  nor  is  there  a  more  ancient  nobility  than  that 
of  which  the  remains  are  to  be  found  in  my  native  country. 
But  they  have  voluntarily  resigned  the  oppressive  part  of  their 
feudal  power,  and  are  no  longer  regarded  as  wolves  amongst 
the  flock,  but  as  sagacious  mastifi's,  who  attend  the  sheep  in 
time  of  peace,  and  are  prompt  in  their  defence  when  war 
threatens  our  community.' 

*  But,'  repeated  the  merchant,  who  could  not  yet  reconcile 
himself  to  the  idea  that  his  plain  and  peasant- seeming  host 
was  a  man  of  distinguished  birth,  'you  bear  not  the  name, 
worthy  sir,  of  your  fathers.  They  were,  you  say,  the  Counts 
of  Geierstein,  and  you  are ' 

'  Arnold  Biederman,  at  your  command,'  answered  the  magis- 
trate. '  But  know  —  if  the  knowledge  can  make  you  sup  with 
more  sense  of  dignity  or  comfort  —  I  need  but  put  on  yonder 
old  helmet,  or,  if  that  were  too  much  trouble,  I  have  only  to 
stick  a  falcon's  feather  into  my  cap,  and  call  myself  Arnold 
Count  of  Geierstein.  No  man  could  gainsay  me ;  though 
whether  it  would  become  my  Lord  Count  to  drive  his  bullocks 
to  the  pasture,  and  whether  his  Excellency  the  High  and  Well- 
bom  could,  without  derogation,  sow  a  field  or  reap  it,  are 
questions  which  should  be  settled  beforehand.     I  see  you  are 


54  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

confounded,  my  respected  guest,  at  my  degeneracy ;  but  the 
state  of  my  family  is  very  soon  explained. 

'My  lordly  fathers  ruled  this  same  domain  of  Geierstein, 
which  in  their  time  was  very  extensive,  much  after  the  mode 
of  feudal  barons  —  that  is,  they  were  sometimes  the  protectors 
and  patrons,  but  oftener  the  oppressors,  of  their  subjects.  But 
when  my  grandfather,  Heinrich  of  Geierstein,  flourished,  he  not 
only  joined  the  Confederates  to  repel  Ingelram  de  Couci  and  his 
roving  bands,  as  I  already  told  you,  but,  when  the  wars  with 
Austria  were  renewed,  and  many  of  his  degree  joined  with  the 
host  of  the  Emperor  Leopold,  my  ancestor  adopted  the  opposite 
side,  fought  in  front  of  the  Confederates,  and  contributed  by 
his  skill  and  valour^  to  the  decisive  victory  at  Sempach,  in 
which  Leopold  lost  his  life,  and  the  flower  of  Austrian  chivalry 
fell  around  him.  My  father.  Count  Williewald,  followed  the 
same  course,  both  from  inclination  and  policy.  He  united  him- 
self closely  with  the  state  of  Unterwalden,  became  a  citizen  of 
the  Confederacy,  and  distinguished  himself  so  much,  that  he 
was  chosen  landamman  of  the  republic.  He  had  two  sons, 
myself  and  a  younger  brother,  Albert ;  and  possessed,  as  he 
felt  himself,  of  a  species  of  double  character,  he  was  desirous, 
perhaps  unwisely  —  if  I  may  censure  the  purpose  of  a  deceased 
parent  —  that  one  of  his  sons  should  succeed  him  in  his  lordship 
of  Geierstein,  and  the  other  support  the  less  ostentatious, 
though  not  in  my  thought  less  honourable,  condition  of  a  free 
citizen  of  Unterwalden,  possessing  such  influence  among  his 
equals  in  the  canton  as  might  be  acquired  by  his  father's 
merits  and  his  own.  When  Albert  was  twelve  years  old,  our 
father  took  us  on  a  short  excursion  to  Germany,  where  the 
form,  pomp,  and  magnificence  which  we  witnessed  made  a  very 
different  impression  on  the  mind  of  my  brother  and  on  my 
own.  What  appeared  to  Albert  the  consummation  of  earthly 
splendour  seemed  to  me  a  weary  display  of  tiresome  and 
useless  ceremonials.  Our  father  explained  his  purpose,  and 
off'ered  to  me,  as  his  eldest  son,  the  large  estate  belonging  to 
Geierstein,  reserving  such  a  portion  of  the  most  fertile  ground 
as  might  make  my  brother  one  of  the  wealthiest  citizens  in  a 
district  where  competence  is  esteemed  wealth.  The  tears 
gushed  from  Albert's  eyes.  "And  must  my  brother,"  he  said, 
"be  a  noble  count,  honoured  and  followed  by  vassals  and 
attendants,  and  I  a  homespun  peasant  among  the  grey-bearded 
shepherds  of  Unterwalden  ?  No,  father,  I  respect  your  will, 
but  I  will  not  sacrifice  my  own  rights.     Geierstein  is  a  fief  held 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  55 

of  the  empire,  and  the  laws  entitle  me  to  my  equal  half  of 
the  lands.  If  my  brother  be  Count  of  Geierstein,  I  am  not 
the  less  Count  Albert  of  Geierstein ;  and  I  will  appeal  to  the 
Emperor,  rather  than  that  the  arbitrary  will  of  one  ancestor, 
though  he  be  my  father,  shall  cancel  in  me  the  rank  and  rights 
which  I  have  derived  from  a  hundred."  My  father  was  greatly 
incensed.  "Go,"  he  said,  "proud  boy,  give  the  enemy  of  thy 
country  a  pretext  to  interfere  in  her  affairs  :  appeal  to  the  will 
of  a  foreign  prince  from  the  pleasure  of  thy  father.  Go,  but 
never  again  look  me  in  the  face,  and  dread  my  eternal  male- 
diction ! "  Albert  was  about  to  reply  with  vehemence,  when  I 
entreated  him  to  be  silent  and  hear  me  speak.  I  had,  I  said, 
all  my  life  loved  the  mountain  better  than  the  plain,  had 
been  more  pleased  to  walk  than  to  ride,  more  proud  to  con- 
tend with  shepherds  in  their  sports  than  with  nobles  in  the 
lists,  and  happier  in  the  village  dance  than  among  the  feasts 
of  the  German  nobles.  "Let  me,  therefore,"  I  said,  "be  a 
citizen  of  the  republic  of  Unterwalden  —  you  will  relieve  me  of 
a  thousand  cares ;  and  let  my  brother  Albert  wear  the  coronet 
and  bear  the  honours  of  Geierstein."  After  some  further  dis- 
cussion, my  father  was  at  length  contented  to  adopt  my  proposal, 
in  order  to  attain  the  object  which  he  had  so  much  at  heart. 
Albert  was  declared  heir  of  his  castle  and  his  rank,  by  the 
title  of  Count  Albert  of  Geierstein ;  and  I  was  placed  in  pos- 
session of  these  fields  and  fertile  meadows  amidst  which  my 
house  is  situated,  and  my  neighbours  called  me  Arnold 
Biederman.' 

'And  if  Biederman,'  said  the  merchant,  'means,  as  I  under- 
stand the  word,  a  man  of  worth,  candour,  and  generosity,  I 
know  none  on  whom  the  epithet  could  be  so  justly  conferred. 
Yet  let  me  observe,  that  I  praise  the  conduct  which,  in  your 
circumstances,  I  could  not  have  bowed  my  spirit  to  practise. 
Proceed,  I  pray  you,  with  the  history  of  your  house,  if  the 
recital  be  not  painful  to  you.' 

'I  have  little  more  to  say,'  replied  the  Landamman.  'My 
father  died  soon  after  the  settlement  of  his  estate  in  the 
manner  I  have  told  you.  My  brother  had  other  possessions 
in  Swabia  and  Westphalia,  and  seldom  visited  his  paternal 
castle,  which  was  chiefly  occupied  by  a  seneschal,  a  man  so 
obnoxious  to  the  vassals  of  the  family  that,  but  for  the  protec- 
tion afforded  by  my  near  residence  and  relationship  with  his 
lord,  he  would  have  been  plucked  out  of  the  Vulture's  Nest, 
and  treated  with  as  little  ceremony  as  if  he  had  been  the 


56  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

vulture  himself.  Neither,  to  say  the  truth,  did  my  brother's 
occasional  visits  to  Geierstein  afford  his  vassals  much  relief,  or 
acquire  any  popularity  for  himself.  He  heard  with  the  ears 
and  saw  with  the  eyes  of  his  cruel  and  interested  steward,  Ital 
Schreckenwald,  and  would  not  listen  even  to  my  interference 
and  admonition.  Indeed,  though  he  always  demeaned  himself 
with  personal  kindness  towards  me,  I  believe  he  considered  me 
as  a  dull  and  poor-spirited  clown,  who  had  disgraced  my  noble 
blood  by  my  mean  propensities.  He  showed  contempt  on 
every  occasion  for  the  prejudices  of  his  countrymen,  and  par- 
ticularly by  wearing  a  peacock's  feather  in  public,  and  causing 
his  followers  to  display  the  same  badge,  though  the  cognizance 
of  the  house  of  Austria,  and  so  unpopular  in  this  country,  that 
men  have  been  put  to  death  for  no  better  reason  than  for 
carrying  it  in  their  caps.  In  the  meantime  I  was  married  to 
my  Bertha,  now  a  saint  in  Heaven,  by  whom  I  had  six  stately 
sons,  five  of  whom  you  saw  surrounding  my  table  this  day. 
Albert  also  married.  His  wife  was  a  lady  of  rank  in  West- 
phalia, but  his  bridal-bed  was  less  fruitful :  he  had  only  one 
daughter,  Anne  of  Geierstein.  Then  came  on  the  wars  between 
the  city  of  Zurich  and  our  Forest  Cantons,  in  which  so  much 
blood  was  shed,  and  when  our  brethren  of  Zurich  were  so  ill- 
advised  as  to  embrace  the  alliance  of  Austria.  Their  Emperor 
strained  every  nerve  to  avail  himself  of  the  favourable  oppor- 
tunity afforded  by  the  disunion  of  the  Swiss,  and  engaged  all  with 
whom  he  had  influence  to  second  his  efforts.  With  my  brother 
he  was  but  too  successful ;  for  Albert  not  only  took  arms  in 
the  Emperor's  cause,  but  admitted  into  the  strong  fortress  of 
Geierstein  a  band  of  Austrian  soldiers,  with  whom  the  wicked 
Ital  Schreckenwald  laid  waste  the  whole  country,  excepting  my 
little  patrimony.' 

*  It  came  to  a  severe  pass  with  you,  my  worthy  host,'  said 
the  merchant,  *  since  you  were  to  decide  against  the  cause  of 
your  country  or  that  of  your  brother.' 

*I  did  not  hesitate,'  continued  Arnold  Biederman.  *My 
brother  was  in  the  Emperor's  army,  and  I  was  not  therefore 
reduced  to  act  personally  against  him ;  but  I  denounced  war 
against  the  robbers  and  thieves  with  whom  Schreckenwald  had 
filled  my  father's  house.  It  was  waged  with  various  fortune. 
The  seneschal,  during  my  absence,  burnt  down  my  house,  and 
slew  my  youngest  son,  who  died,  alas  !  in  defence  of  his  father's 
hearth.  It  is  little  to  add,  that  my  lands  were  wasted  and  my 
flocks  destroyed.     On  the  other  hand,  I  succeeded,  with  help 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  57 

of  a  body  of  the  peasants  of  Unterwalden,  in  storming  the 
Castle  of  Geierstein.  It  was  offered  back  to  me  by  the  Con- 
federates ;  but  I  had  no  desire  to  sully  the  fair  cause  in  which 
I  had  assumed  arms,  by  enriching  myself  at  the  expense  of  my 
brother;  and  besides,  to  have  dwelt  in  that  guarded  hold 
would  have  been  a  penance  to  one  the  sole  protectors  of  whose 
house  of  late  years  had  been  a  latch  and  a  shepherd's  cur. 
The  castle  was  therefore  dismantled,  as  you  see,  by  order  of 
the  elders  of  the  canton;  and  I  even  think  that,  consider- 
ing the  uses  it  was  too  often  put  to,  I  look  with  more  pleasure 
on  the  rugged  remains  of  Geierstein  than  I  ever  did  when  it 
was  entire  and  apparently  impregnable.' 

*I  can  understand  your  feelings,'  said  the  Englishman, 
*  though  I  repeat,  my  virtue  would  not  perhaps  have  extended 
so  far  beyond  the  circle  of  my  family  affections.  Your  brother, 
what  said  he  to  your  patriotic  exertions  ? ' 

'He  was,  as  I  learnt,'  answered  the  Landamman,  'dreadfully 
incensed,  having  no  doubt  been  informed  that  I  had  taken  his 
castle  with  a  view  to  my  own  aggrandisement.  He  even  swore 
he  would  renounce  my  kindred,  seek  me  through  the  battle, 
and  slay  me  with  his  own  hand.  We  were,  in  fact,  both  at  the 
battle  of  Freyenbach,  but  my  brother  was  prevented  from 
attempting  the  execution  of  his  vindictive  purpose  by  a  wound 
from  an  arrow,  which  occasioned  his  being  carried  out  of  the 
m^l^e.  I  was  afterwards  in  the  bloody  and  melancholy  fight  at 
Mount  Hirzel,  and  that  other  onslaught  at  the  chapel  of  St. 
Jacob,  which  brought  our  brethren  of  Zurich  to  terms,  and 
reduced  Austria  once  more  to  the  necessity  of  making  peace 
with  us.  After  this  war  of  thirteen  years,  the  Diet  passed 
sentence  of  banishment  for  life  on  my  brother  Albert,  and 
would  have  deprived  him  of  his  possessions,  but  forbore  in  con- 
sideration of  what  they  thought  my  good  service.  When  the 
sentence  was  intimated  to  the  Count  of  Geierstein,  he  returned 
an  answer  of  defiance  ;  yet  a  singular  circumstance  showed  us 
not  long  afterwards  that  he  retained  an  attachment  to  his 
country,  and,  amidst  his  resentment  against  me  his  brother,  did 
justice  to  my  unaltered  affection  for  him.' 

*I  would  pledge  my  credit,'  said  the  merchant,  'that  what 
follows  relates  to  yonder  fair  maiden,  your  niece  ? ' 

'You  guess  rightly,'  said  the  Landamman.  'For  some  time 
we  heard,  though  indistinctly  —  for  we  have,  as  you  know,  but 
little  communication  with  foreign  countries  —  that  my  brother 
was  high  in  favour  at  the  court  of  the  Emperor,  but  latterly 


58  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

that  he  had  fallen  under  suspicion,  and,  in  the  course  of  some 
of  those  revolutions  common  at  the  courts  of  princes,  had  been 
driven  into  exile.  It  was  shortly  after,  this  news,  and,  as  I 
think,  more  than  seven  years  ago,  that  I  was  returning  from 
hunting  on  the  further  side  of  the  river,  had  passed  the  narrow 
bridge  as  usual,  and  was  walking  through  the  courtyard  which 
we  have  lately  left  (for  their  walk  was  now  turned  homeward), 
when  a  voice  said,  in  the  German  language,  "  Uncle,  have  com- 
passion upon  me  !  "  As  I  looked  around,  I  beheld  a  girl  of  ten 
years  old  approach  timidly  from  the  shelter  of  the  ruins  and 
kneel  down  at  my  feet.  "  Uncle,  spare  my  life,"  she  said,  hold- 
ing up  her  little  hands  in  the  act  of  supplication,  while  mortal 
terror  was  painted  upon  her  countenance.  "  Am  I  your  uncle, 
little  maiden  1 "  said  I ;  "  and  if  I  am,  why  should  you  fear 
me  1 "  "  Because  you  are  the  head  of  the  wicked  and  base 
clowns  who  delight  to  spill  noble  blood,"  replied  the  girl,  with 
a  courage  which  surprised  me.  "  What  is  your  name,  my  little 
maiden  ? "  said  I ;  "  and  who,  having  planted  in  your  mind 
opinions  so  unfavourable  to  your  kinsman,  has  brought  you 
hither,  to  see  if  he  resembles  the  picture  you  have  received  of 
him  V  "It  was  Ital  Schreckenwald  that  brought  me  hither," 
said  the  girl,  only  half  comprehending  the  nature  of  my  ques- 
tion. "  Ital  Schreckenwald !  "  I  repeated,  shocked  at  the  name 
of  a  wretch  I  have  so  much  reason  to  hate.  A  voice  from  the 
ruins,  like  that  of  a  sullen  echo  from  the  grave,  answered, 
"  Ital  Schreckenwald !  "  and  the  caitiff  issued  from  his  place 
of  concealment,  and  stood  before  me,  with  that  singular  in- 
difference to  danger  which  he  unites  to  his  atrocity  of  char- 
acter. I  had  my  spiked  mountain-staff  in  my  hand  —  what 
should  I  have  done,  or  what  would  you  have  done,  under 
like  circumstances  1 ' 

*  I  would  have  laid  him  on  the  earth,  with  his  skull  shivered 
like  an  icicle  ! '  said  the  Englishman,  fiercely. 

*  I  had  wellnigh  done  so,'  replied  the  Swiss,  '  but  he  was  un- 
armed, a  messenger  from  my  brother,  and  therefore  no  object 
of  revenge.  His  own  undismayed  and  audacious  conduct  con- 
tributed to  save  him.  "Let  the  vassal  of  the  noble  and 
high-born  Count  of  Geierstein  hear  the  words  of  his  master, 
and  let  him  look  that  they  are  obeyed,"  said  the  insolent 
ruffian.  "  Doff  thy  cap  and  listen ;  for,  though  the  voice  is  mine, 
the  words  are  those  of  the  noble  count."  "  God  and  man 
know,"  replied  I,  "  if  I  owe  my  brother  respect  or  homage ;  it 
is  much  if,  in  respect  for  him,  I  defer  paying  to  his  messenger 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  59 

the  meed  I  dearly  owe  him.  Proceed  with  thy  tale,  and  rid  me 
of  thy  hateful  presence."  "Albert  Count  of  Geierstein,  thy 
lord  and  my  lord,"  proceeded  Schreckenwald,  "having  on  his 
hand  wars  and  other  affairs  of  weight,  sends  his  daughter,  the 
Countess  Anne,  to  thy  charge,  and  graces  thee  so  far  as  to 
entrust  to  thee  her  support  and  nurture,  until  it  shall  suit  his 
purposes  to  require  her  back  from  thee ;  and  he  desires  that 
thou  apply  to  her  maintenance  the  rents  and  profits  of  the 
lands  of  Geierstein,  which  thou  hast  usurped  from  him."  "  Ital 
Schreckenwald,"  1  replied,  "  I  will  not  stop  to  ask  if  this  mode 
of  addressing  me  be  according  to  my  brother's  directions  or 
thine  own  insolent  pleasure.  If  circumstances  have,  as  thou 
sayest,  deprived  my  niece  of  her  natural  protector,  I  will  be  to 
her  as  a  father,  nor  shall  she  want  aught  which  I  have  to  give 
her.  The  lands  of  Geierstein  are  forfeited  to  the  state,  the 
castle  is  ruinous,  as  thou  seest,  and  it  is  much  of  thy  crimes 
that  the  house  of  my  fathers  is  desolate.  But  where  I  dwell 
Anne  of  Geierstein  shall  dwell,  as  my  children  fare  shall  she 
fare,  and  she  shall  be  to  me  as  a  daughter.  And  now  thou 
hast  thine  errand.  Go  hence,  if  thou  lovest  thy  life ;  for  it  is 
unsafe  parleying  with  the  father  when  thy  hands  are  stained 
with  the  blood  of  the  son."  The  wretch  retired  as  I  spoke, 
but  took  his  leave  with  his  usual  determined  insolence  of 
manner.  "  Farewell,"  he  said,  "  Count  of  the  Plough  and 
Harrow  —  farewell,  noble  companion  of  paltry  burghers  !  "  He 
disappeared,  and  released  me  from  the  strong  temptation  under 
which  I  laboured,  and  which  urged  me  to  stain  with  his  blood 
the  place  which  had  witnessed  his  cruelty  and  his  crimes.  I 
conveyed  my  niece  to  my  house,  and  soon  convinced  her  that 
I  was  her  sincere  friend.  I  inured  her,  as  if  she  had  been  my 
daughter,  to  all  our  mountain  exercises ;  and  while  she  excels 
in  these  the  damsels  of  the  district,  there  burst  from  her  such 
sparkles  of  sense  and  courage,  mingled  with  delicacy,  as  belong 
not  —  I  must  needs  own  the  truth  —  to  the  simple  maidens  of 
these  wild  hills,  but  relish  of  a  nobler  stem  and  higher  breed- 
ing. Yet  they  are  so  happily  mixed  with  simplicity  and 
courtesy,  that  Anne  of  Geierstein  is  justly  considered  as  the 
pride  of  the  district;  nor  do  I  doubt  but  that,  if  she  should 
make  a  worthy  choice  of  a  husband,  the  state  would  assign  her 
a  large  dower  out  of  her  father's  possessions,  since  it  is  not  our 
maxim  to  punish  the  child  for  the  faults  of  the  parent.' 

'  It  wiU  naturally  be  your  anxious  desire,  my  worthy  host,' 
replied  the  Englishman,  *  to  secure  to  your  niece,  in  whose 


60  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

praises  I  have  deep  cause  to  join  with  a  grateful  voice,  such  a 
suitable  match  as  her  birth  and  expectations,  but  above  all  her 
merit,  demand.' 

'It  is,  my  good  guest,'  said  the  Landamman,  'that  which 
hath  often  occupied  my  thoughts.  The  over-near  relationship 
prohibits  what  would  have  been  my  most  earnest  desire,  the 
hope  of  seeing  her  wedded  to  one  of  my  own  sons.  This  young 
man,  Rudolph  Donnerhugel,  is  brave,  and  highly  esteemed  by 
his  fellow-citizens ;  but  more  ambitious,  and  more  desirous 
of  distinction,  than  I  would  desire  for  my  niece's  companion 
through  life.  His  temper  is  violent,  though  his  heart,  I  trust, 
is  good.  But  I  am  like  to  be  unpleasantly  released  from  all 
care  on  this  score,  since  my  brother,  having,  as  it  seemed,  for- 
gotten Anne  for  seven  years  and  upwards,  has,  by  a  letter 
which  I  ha.ve  lately  received,  demanded  that  she  shall  be  re- 
stored to  him.  You  can  read,  my  worthy  sir,  for  your  profes- 
sion requires  it.  See,  here  is  the  scroll,  coldly  worded,  but  far 
less  unkindly  than  his  unbrotherly  message  by  Ital  Schrecken- 
wald.     Read  it,  I  pray  you,  aloud.' 

The  merchant  read  accordingly. 

* "  Brother  —  I  thank  you  for  the  care  you  have  taken  of  my 
daughter,  for  she  has  been  in  safety  when  she  would  otherwise 
have  been  in  peril,  and  kindly  used  when  she  would  have  been 
in  hardship.  I  now  entreat  you  to  restore  her  to  me,  and 
trust  that  she  will  come  with  the  virtues  which  become  a 
woman  in  every  station,  and  a  disposition  to  lay  aside  the 
habits  of  a  Swiss  villager  for  the  graces  of  a  high-born  maiden. 
Adieu.  I  thank  you  once  more  for  your  care,  and  would  repay 
it  were  it  in  my  power;  but  you  need  nothing  I  can  give, 
having  renounced  the  rank  to  which  you  were  born,  and  made 
your  nest  on  the  ground,  where  the  storm  passes  over  you.  I 
rest  your  brother,  Geierstein." 

It  is  addressed  "  To  Count  Arnold  of  Geierstein,  called  Arnold 
Biederman."  A  postscript  requires  you  to  send  the  maiden  to 
the  court  of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy.  This,  good  sir,  appears 
to  me  the  Kinguage  of  a  haughty  man,  divided  betwixt  the 
recollection  of  old  offence  and  recent  obligation.  The  speech 
of  his  messenger  was  that  of  a  malicious  vassal,  desirous  of 
venting  his  own  spite  under  pretence  of  doing  his  lord's 
errand.' 
'  I  so  receive  both,'  replied  Arnold  Biederman. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  61 

'And  do  you  intend,'  continued  the  merchant,  'to  resign 
this  beautiful  and  interesting  creature  to  the  conduct  of  her 
father,  wilful  as  he  seems  to  be,  without  knowing  what  his 
condition  is,  or  what  his  power  of  protecting  her  ? ' 

The  Landamman  hastened  to  reply.  '  The  tie  which  unites 
the  parent  to  the  child  is  the  earliest  and  the  most  hallowed 
that  binds  the  human  race.  The  difficulty  of  her  travelling  in 
safety  has  hitherto  prevented  my  attempting  to  carry  my 
brother's  instructions  into  execution.  But,  as  I  am  now  likely 
to  journey  in  person  towards  the  court  of  Charles,  I  have 
determined  that  Anne  shall  accompany  me;  and  as  I  will 
myself  converse  with  my  brother,  whom  I  have  not  seen  for 
many  years,  I  shall  learn  his  purpose  respecting  his  daughter, 
and  it  may  be  I  may  prevail  on  Albert  to  suffer  her  to  remain 
under  my  charge.  And  now,  sir,  having  told  you  of  my  family 
affairs  at  some  greater  length  than  was  necessary,  I  must  crave 
your  attention,  as  a  wise  man,  to  what  farther  I  have  to  say. 
You  know  the  disposition  which  young  men  and  women  natu- 
rally have  to  talk,  jest,  and  sport  with  each  other,  out  of  which 
practice  arise  often  more  serious  attachments,  which  they  call 
loving  'par  amov/rs.  I  trust,  if  we  are  to  travel  together,  you 
will  so  school  your  young  man  as  to  make  him  aware  that 
Anne  of  Geierstein  cannot,  with  propriety  on  her  part,  be  made 
the  object  of  his  thoughts  or  attentions.' 

The  merchant  coloured  with  resentment,  or  something  like 
it.  'I  asked  not  to  join  your  company,  sir  Landamman  —  it 
was  you  who  requested  mine,'  he  said  ;  'if  my  son  and  I  have 
since  become  in  any  respect  the  objects  of  your  suspicion,  we 
will  gladly  pursue  our  way  separately.' 

'  Nay,  be  not  angry,  worthy  guest,'  said  the  Landamman ; 
*  we  Switzers  do  not  rashly  harbour  suspicions ;  and  that  we 
may  not  harbour  them,  we  speak  respecting  the  circumstances 
out  of  which  they  might  arise  more  plainly  than  is  the  wont  of 
more  civilised  countries.  When  I  proposed  to  you  to  be  my 
companion  on  the  journey,  to  speak  the  truth,  though  it  may 
displease  a  father's  ear,  I  regarded  your  son  as  a  soft,  faint- 
hearted youth,  who  was,  as  yet  at  least,  too  timid  and  milky- 
blooded  to  attract  either  respect  or  regard  from  the  maidens. 
But  a  few  hours  have  presented  him  to  us  in  the  character  of 
such  a  one  as  is  sure  to  interest  them.  He  has  accomplished 
the  emprise  of  the  bow,  long  thought  unattainable,  and  with 
which  a  popular  report  connects  an  idle  prophecy.  He  has  wit 
to  make  verses,  and  knows  doubtless  how  to  recommend  himself 


62  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

by  other  accomplishments  which  bind  young  persons  to  each 
other,  though  they  are  lightly  esteemed  by  men  whose  beards 
are  mixed  with  grey,  like  yours,  friend  merchant,  and  mine 
own.  Now,  you  must  be  aware  that,  since  my  brother  broke 
terms  with  me  simply  for  preferring  the  freedom  of  a  Swiss 
citizen  to  the  tawdry  and  servile  condition  of  a  German  courtier, 
he  will  not  approve  of  any  one  looking  towards  his  daughter 
who  hath  not  the  advantage  of  noble  blood,  or  who  hath  what 
he  would  call  debased  himself  by  attention  to  merchandise,  to 
the  cultivation  of  land  —  in  a  word,  to  any  art  that  is  useful. 
Should  your  son  love  Anne  of  Geierstein,  he  prepares  for  himself 
danger  and  disappointment.  And,  now  you  know  the  whole,  I 
ask  you  —  Do  we  travel  together  or  apart  ? ' 

'Even  as  ye  list,  my  worthy  host,'  said  Philipson,  in  an 
indifferent  tone ;  '  for  me,  I  can  but  say  that  such  an  attach- 
ment as  you  speak  of  would  be  as  contrary  to  my  wishes  as  to 
those  of  your  brother,  or  what  I  suppose  are  your  own.  Arthur 
Philipson  has  duties  to  perform  totally  inconsistent  with  his 
playing  the  gentle  bachelor  to  any  maiden  in  Switzerland,  take 
Germany  to  boot,  whether  of  high  or  low  degree.  He  is  an 
obedient  son,  besides  —  hath  never  seriously  disobeyed  my  com- 
mands, and  I  will  have  an  eye  upon  his  motions.' 

'  Enough,  my  friend,'  said  the  Landamman ;  *  we  travel 
together,  then,  and  I  willingly  keep  my  original  purpose,  being 
both  pleased  and  instructed  by  your  discourse.' 

Then,  changing  the  conversation,  he  began  to  ask  whether 
his  acquaintance  thought  that  the  league  entered  into  by  the 
King  of  England  and  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  would  continue 
stable.  '  We  hear  much,'  continued  the  Swiss, '  of  the  immense 
army  with  which  King  Edward  proposes  the  recovery  of  the 
English  dominions  in  France.' 

'I  am  well  aware,'  said  Philipson,  'that  nothing  can  be  so 
popular  in  my  country  as  the  invasion  of  France,  and  the 
attempt  to  reconquer  Normandy,  Maine,  and  Gascony,  the 
ancient  appanages  of  our  English  crown.  But  I  greatly  doubt 
whether  the  voluptuous  usurper  who  now  calls  himself  king 
will  be  graced  by  Heaven  with  success  in  such  an  adventure. 
This  fourth  Edward  is  brave  indeed,  and  has  gained  every 
battle  in  which  he  drew  his  sword,  and  they  have  been  many 
in  number.  But  since  he  reached,  through  a  bloody  path,  to 
the  summit  of  his  ambition,  he  has  shown  himself  rather  a 
sensual  debauchee  than  a  valiant  knight;  and  it  is  my  firm 
belief  that  not  even  the  chance  of  recovering  all  the  fair 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  63 

dominions  which  were  lost  during  the  civil  wars  excited  by  his 
ambitious  house  will  tempt  him  to  exchange  the  soft  beds  of 
London,  with  sheets  of  silk  and  pillows  of  down,  and  the  music 
of  a  dying  lute  to  lull  him  to  rest  for  the  turf  of  France  and 
the  reveille  of  an  alarm  trumpet.' 

'It  is  the  better  for  us  should  it  prove  so,'  s^id  the  Landam- 
man ;  '  for  if  England  and  Burgundy  were  to  dismember  France, 
as  in  our  father's  days  was  nearly  accomplished,  Duke  Charles 
would  then  have  leisure  to  exhaust  his  long-hoarded  vengeance 
against  our  confederacy.' 

As  they  conversed  thus,  they  attained  once  more  the  lawn 
in  front  of  Arnold  Biederman's  mansion,  where  the  contention 
of  the  young  men  had  given  place  to  the  dance  performed  by 
the  young  persons  of  both  sexes.  The  dance  was  led  by  Anne 
of  Geierstein  and  the  youthful  stranger;  which,  although  it 
was  the  most  natural  arrangement,  where  the  one  was  a  guest 
and  the  other  represented  the  mistress  of  the  family,  occasioned 
the  Landamman's  exchanging  a  glance  with  the  elder  Fhilipson, 
as  if  it  had  held  some  relation  to  the  suspicions  he  had  recently 


But  so  soon  as  her  uncle  and  his  elder  guest  appeared, 
Anne  of  Geierstein  took  the  earliest  opportunity  of  a  pause  to 
break  off  the  dance,  and  to  enter  into  conversation  with  her 
kinsman,  as  if  on  the  domestic  affairs  under  her  attendance. 
Fhilipson  observed  that  his  host  Hstened  seriously  to  his 
niece's  communication;  and,  nodding  in  his  frank  manner, 
seemed  to  intimate  that  her  request  should  receive  a  favourable 
consideration. 

The  family  were  presently  afterwards  summoned  to  attend 
the  evening  meal,  which  consisted  chiefly  of  the  excellent  fish 
afibrded  by  the  neighbouring  streams  and  lakes.  A  large  cup, 
containing  what  was  called  the  schlaftrunk^  or  sleeping  drink, 
then  went  round,  which  was  first  quafied  by  the  master  of  the 
household,  then  modestly  tasted  by  the  maiden,  next  pledged 
by  the  two  strangers,  and  finally  emptied  by  the  rest  of  the 
company.  Such  were  then  the  sober  manners  of  the  Swiss, 
afterwards  much  corrupted  by  their  intercourse  with  more 
luxurious  regions.  The  guests  were  conducted  to  the  sleeping- 
apartments,  where  Fhilipson  and  young  Arthur  occupied  the 
same  couch,  and  shortly  after  the  whole  inhabitants  of  the 
household  were  locked  in  sound  repose. 


CHAPTER  VI 

When  we  two  meet,  we  meet  like  rushing  torrents  ; 
Like  warring  winds,  like  flames  from  various  points, 
That  mate  each  other's  fury  —  there  is  nought 
Of  elemental  strife,  were  fiends  to  guide  it. 
Can  match  the  wrath  of  man. 

Frenaud. 

THE  elder  of  our  two  travellers,  though  a  strong  man  and 
familiar  with  fatigue,  slept  sounder  and  longer  than 
usual  on  the  morning  which  was  now  beginning  to 
dawn,  but  his  son  Arthur  had  that  upon  his  mind  which  early- 
interrupted  his  repose. 

The  encounter  with  the  bold  Switzer,  a  chosen  man  of  a 
renowned  race  of  warriors,  was  an  engagement  which,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  period  in  which  he  lived,  was  not  to  be  delayed 
or  broken.  He  left  his  father's  side,  avoiding  as  much  as 
possible  the  risk  of  disturbing  him,  though  even  in  that  case 
the  circumstance  would  not  have  excited  any  attention,  as  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  rising  early,  in  order  to  make  preparations 
for  the  day's  journey,  to  see  that  the  guide  was  on  his  duty, 
and  that  the  mule  had  his  provender,  and  to  discharge  similar 
offices  which  might  otherwise  have  given  trouble  to  his  father. 
The  old  man,  however,  fatigued  with  the  exertions  of  the  pre- 
ceding day,  slept,  as  we  have  said,  more  soundly  than  his  wont, 
and  Arthur,  arming  himself  with  his  good  sword,  sallied  out  to 
the  lawn  in  front  of  the  Landamman's  dwelling,  amid  the  magic 
dawn  of  a  beautiful  harvest  morning  in  the  Swiss  mountains. 

The  sun  was  just  about  to  kiss  the  top  of  the  most  gigantic 
of  that  race  of  Titans,  though  the  long  shadows  still  lay  on  the 
rough  grass,  which  crisped  under  the  young  man's  feet  with  a 
strong  intimation  of  frost.  But  Arthur  looked  not  round  on 
the  landscape,  however  lovely,  which  lay  waiting  one  flash  from 
the  orb  of  day  to  start  into  brilliant  existence.  He  drew  the 
belt  of  his  trusty  sword  which  he  was  in  the  act  of  fastening 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  65 

when  he  left  the  house,  and  ere  he  had  secured  the  buckle,  he 
was  many  paces  on  his  way  towards  the  place  where  he  was  to 
use  it. 

It  was  still  the  custom  of  that  military  period  to  regard  a 
summons  to  combat  as  a  sacred  engagement,  preferable  to  all 
others  which  could  be  formed;  and  stifling  whatever  inward 
feelings  of  reluctance  nature  might  oppose  to  the  dictates  of 
fashion,  the  step  of  a  gallant  to  the  place  of  encounter  was 
required  to  be  as  free  and  ready  as  if  he  had  been  going  to  a 
bridal.  I  do  not  know  whether  this  alacrity  was  altogether 
real  on  the  part  of  Arthur  Philipson  ;  but  if  it  were  otherwise, 
neither  his  look  nor  pace  betrayed  the  secret. 

Having  hastily  traversed  the  fields  and  groves  which 
separated  the  Landamman's  residence  from  the  old  castle  of 
Geierstein,  he  entered  the  courtyard  from  the  side  where  the 
castle  overlooked  the  land ;  and  nearly  in  the  same  instant  his 
almost  gigantic  antagonist,  who  looked  yet  more  tall  and  burly 
by  the  pale  morning  light  than  he  had  seemed  the  preceding 
evening,  appeared  ascending  from  the  precarious  bridge  beside 
the  torrent,  having  reached  Geierstein  by  a  different  route  from 
that  pursued  by  the  Englishman. 

The  young  champion  of  Berne  had  hanging  along  his  back 
one  of  those  huge  two-handed  swords  the  blade  of  which 
measured  five  feet,  and  which  were  wielded  with  both  hands. 
These  were  almost  universally  used  by  the  Swiss ;  for,  besides 
the  impression  which  sudi  weapons  were  calculated  to  make 
upon  the  array  of  the  German  men-at-arms,  whose  armour  was 
impenetrable  to  lighter  swords,  they  were  also  well  calculated 
to  defend  mountain  passes,  where  the  great  bodily  strength 
and  agility  of  those  who  bore  them  enabled  the  combatants, 
in  spite  of  their  weight  and  length,  to  use  them  with  much 
address  and  effect.  One  of  these  gigantic  swords  hung  round 
Rudolph  Donnerhugel's  neck,  the  point  rattling  against  his 
heel,  and  the  handle  extending  itself  over  his  left  shoul- 
der, considerably  above  his  head.  He  carried  another  in  his 
hand. 

'Thou  art  punctual,'  he  called  out  to  Arthur  Philipson, 
in  a  voice  which  was  distinctly  heard  above  the  roar  of  the 
waterfall,  which  it  seemed  to  rival  in  sullen  force.  'But  I 
judged  thou  wouldst  come  without  a  two-handed  sword.  There 
is  my  kinsman  Ernest's,'  he  said,  throwing  on  the  ground  the 
weapon  which  he  carried,  with  the  hilt  towards  the  young 
Englishman.     'Look,  stranger,  that  thou  disgrace  it  not,  for 

VOL,  XXIH — 5 


66  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

my  kinsman  will  never  forgive  me  if  thou  dost.  Or  thou 
mayst  have  mine  if  thou  likest  it  better/ 

The  Englishman  looked  at  the  weapon  with  some  surprise, 
to  the  use  of  which  he  was  totally  unaccustomed. 

'  The  challenger,'  he  said,  '  in  all  countries  where  honour  is 
known  accepts  the  arms  of  the  challenged.' 

'He  who  fights  on  a  Swiss  mountain  fights  with  a  Swiss 
brand,'  answered  Rudolph.  *  Think  you  our  hands  are  made 
to  handle  penknives  ? ' 

*Nor  are  ours  made  to  wield  scythes,'  said  Arthur;  and 
muttered  betwixt  his  teeth,  as  he  looked  at  the  sword,  which 
the  Swiss  continued  to  offer  him  — '  Usum  non  habeo :  I  have 
not  proved  the  weapon.' 

*  Do  you  repent  the  bargain  you  have  made  ? '  said  the 
Swiss ;  *  if  so,  cry  craven,  and  return  in  safety.  Speak  plainly, 
instead  of  prattling  Latin  like  a  clerk  or  a  shaven  monk.' 

'  No,  proud  man,'  replied  the  Englishman,  *  I  ask  thee  no 
forbearance.  I  thought  but  of  a  combat  between  a  shepherd 
and  a  giant,  in  which  God  gave  the  victory  to  him  who  had 
worse  odds  of  weapons  than  falls  to  my  lot  to-day.  I  will  fight 
as  I  stand  :  my  own  good  sword  shall  serve  my  need  now,  as  it 
has  done  before.' 

*  Content  1  But  blame  not  me  who  offered  thee  equality  of 
weapons,'  said  the  mountaineer.  '  And  now  hear  me.  This  is 
a  fight  for  life  or  death ;  yon  waterfall  sounds  the  alarum  for 
our  conflict.  Yes,  old  hello wer,'  he  continued,  looking  back, 
*  it  is  long  since  thou  hast  heard  the  noise  of  battle.  Aad  look 
at  it  ere  we  begin,  stranger,  for,  if  you  fall,  I  will  commit  your 
body  to  its  waters.' 

'And  if  thou  fall'st,  proud  Swiss,'  answered  Arthur,  'as 
well  I  trust  thy  presumption  leads  to  destruction,  I  will  have 
thee  buried  in  the  church  at  Einsiedlen,  where  the  priests 
shall  sing  masses  for  thy  soul;  thy  two-handed  sword  shall 
be  displayed  above  thy  grave,  and  a  scroll  shall  tell  the  pas- 
senger, "  Here  lies  a  bear's  cub  of  Berne,  slain  by  Arthur  the 
Englishman." ' 

'  The  stone  is  not  in  Switzerland,  rocky  as  it  is,'  said  Rudolph, 
scornfully,  *  that  shall  bear  that  inscription.  Prepare  thyself 
for  battle.' 

The  Englishman  cast  a  calm  and  deliberate  glance  around 
the  scene  of  action  —  a  courtyard,  partly  open,  partly  encum- 
bered with  ruins,  in  less  and  larger  masses. 

'  Methinks,'  said  he  to  himself,  *  a  master  of  his  weapon. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  67 

with  the  instructions  of  Bottaferma  of  Florence  in  his  remem- 
brance, a  light  heart,  a  good  blade,  a  firm  hand,  and  a  just 
cause,  might  make  up  a,  worse  odds  than  two  feet  of  steel/ 

Thinking  thus,  and  imprinting  on  his  mind,  as  much  as  the 
time  would  permit,  every  circumstance  of  the  locality  around 
him  which  promised  advantage  in  the  combat,  and  taking  his 
station  in  the  middle  of  the  courtyard  where  the  ground  was 
entirely  clear,  he  flung  his  cloak  from  him  and  drew  his 
sword. 

Rudolph  had  at  first  believed  that  his  foreign  antagonist 
was  an  effeminate  youth,  who  would  be  swept  from  before 
him  at  the  first  flourish  of  his  tremendous  weapon.  But 
the  firm  and  watchful  attitude  assumed  by  the  young  man 
reminded  the  Swiss  of  the  deficiencies  of  his  own  unwieldy 
implement,  and  made  him  determine  to  avoid  any  precipitation 
which  might  give  advantage  to  an  enemy  who  seemed  both 
daring  and  vigilant.  He  unsheathed  his  huge  sword,  by  drawing 
it  over  the  left  shoulder  —  an  operation  which  required  some 
little  time,  and  might  have  offered  formidable  advantage  to  his 
antagonist,  had  Arthur's  sense  of  honour  permitted  him  to 
begin  the  attack  ere  it  was  completed.  The  Englishman  re- 
mained firm,  however,  until  the  Swiss,  displaying  his  bright 
brand  to  the  morning  sun,  made  three  or  four  flourishes  as  if 
to  prove  its  weight  and  the  facility  with  which  he  wielded  it, 
then  stood  firm  within  sword- stroke  of  his  adversary,  grasping 
his  weapon  with  both  hands,  and  advancing  it  a  little  before 
his  body,  with  the  blade  pointed  straight  upwards.  The 
Englishman,  on  the  contrary,  carried  his  sword  in  one  hand, 
holding  it  across  his  face  in  a  horizontal  position,  so  as  to  be 
at  once  ready  to  strike,  thrust,  or  parry. 

'  Strike,  Englishman  !  '  said  the  Switzer,  after  they  had  con- 
fronted each  other  in  this  manner  for  about  a  minute. 

'The  longest  sword  should  strike  first,'  said  Arthur;  and 
the  words  had  not  left  his  mouth  when  the  Swiss  sword  rose, 
and  descended  with  a  rapidity  which,  the  weight  and  size  of 
the  weapon  considered,  appeared  portentous.  No  parry,  how- 
ever dexterously  interposed,  could  have  baffled  the  ruinous 
descent  of  that  dreadful  weapon,  by  which  the  champion  of 
Berne  had  hoped  at  once  to  begin  the  battle  and  end  it.  But 
young  Philipson  had  not  over-estimated  the  justice  of  his  own  eye 
or  the  activity  of  his  limbs.  Ere  the  blade  descended,  a  sudden 
spring  to  one  side  carried  him  from  beneath  its  heavy  sway, 
and  before  the  Swiss  could  again  raise  his  sword  aloft,  he 


68  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

received  a  wound,  though  a  slight  one,  upon  the  left  ann. 
Irritated  at  the  failure  and  at  the  wound,  the  Switzer  heaved 
up  his  sword  once  more,  and  availing  himself  of  a  strength 
corresponding  to  his  size,  he  discharged  towards  his  adversary 
a  succession  of  blows,  downright,  athwart,  horizontal,  and  from 
left  to  right,  with  such  surprising  strength  and  velocity,  that  it 
required  all  the  address  of  the  young  Englishman,  by  parrying, 
shifting,  eluding,  or  retreating,  to  evade  a  storm  of  which  every 
individual  blow  seemed  sufficient  to  cleave  a  solid  rock.  The 
Englishman  was  compelled  to  give  ground,  now  backwards, 
now  swerving  to  the  one  side  or  the  other,  now  availing  himself 
of  the  fragments  of  the  ruins,  but  watching  all  the  while,  with 
the  utmost  composure,  the  moment  when  the  strength  of  his 
enraged  enemy  might  become  somewhat  exhausted,  or  when  by 
some  improvident  or  furious  blow  he  might  again  lay  himself 
open  to  a  close  attack.  The  latter  of  these  advantages  had 
nearly  occurred,  for,  in  the  middle  of  his  headlong  charge,  the 
Switzer  stumbled  over  a  large  stone  concealed  among  the  long 
grass,  and,  ere  he  could  recover  himself,  received  a  severe  blow 
across  the  head  from  his  antagonist.  It  lighted  upon  his 
bonnet,  the  lining  of  which  inclosed  a  small  steel  cap,  so  that 
he  escaped  unwounded,  and,  springing  up,  renewed  the  battle 
with  unabated  fury,  though  it  seemed  to  the  young  English- 
man with  breath  somewhat  short,  and  blows  dealt  with  more 
caution. 

They  were  still  contending  with  equal  fortune,  when  a  stern 
voice,  rising  over  the  clash  of  swords,  as  well  as  the  roar  of 
waters,  called  out  in  a  commanding  tone,  *0n  your  lives, 
forbear ! ' 

The  two  combatants  sunk  the  points  of  their  swords,  not 
very  sorry,  perhaps,  for  the  interruption  of  a  strife  which  must 
otherwise  have  had  a  deadly  termination.  They  looked  round, 
and  the  Landamman  stood  before  them,  with  anger  frowning 
on  his  broad  and  expressive  forehead. 

^  *  How  now,  boys ! '  he  said ;  *  are  you  guests  of  Arnold 
Biederman,  and  do  you  dishonour  his  house  by  acts  of  violence 
more  becoming  the  wolves  of  the  mountains  than  beings  to 
whom  the  great  Creator  has  given  a  form  after  His  own  like- 
ness, and  an  immortal  soul  to  be  saved  by  penance  and 
repentance  ? ' 

'  Arthur,'  said  the  elder  Philipson,  who  had  come  up  at  the 
same  time  with  their  host,  *  what  frenzy  is  this  ?  Are  your 
duties  of  so  light  and  heedless  a  nature  as  to  give  time  and 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  69 

place    for  quarrels  and    combats  with  every  idle  boor  who 
chances  to  be  boastful  at  once  and  bull-headed  ? ' 

The  young  men,  whose  strife  had  ceased  at  the  entrance  of 
these  unexpected  spectators,  stood  looking  at  each  other  and 
resting  on  their  swords. 

'Rudolph  Donnerhugel,'  said  the  Landamman,  'give  thy 
sword  to  me  —  to  me,  the  owner  of  this  ground,  the  master  of 
this  family,  and  magistrate  of  the  canton.' 

'And  which  is  more,'  answered  Rudolph,  submissively,  'to 
you  who  are  Arnold  Biederman,  at  whose  command  every 
native  of  these  mountains  draws  his  sword  or  sheathes  it.' 

He  gave  his  two-handed  sword  to  the  Landamman. 

'  Now,  by  my  honest  word,'  said  Biederman,  'it  is  the  same 
with  which  thy  father  Stephen  fought  so  gloriously  at  Sempach, 
abreast  with  the  famous  De  Winkelried  !  Shame  it  is  that  it 
should  be  drawn  on  a  helpless  stranger.  And  you,  young  sir,' 
continued  the  Swiss,  addressing  Arthur,  while  his  father  said 
at  the  same  time,  '  Young  man,  yield  up  your  sword  to  the 
Landamman.' 

'It  shall  not  need,  sir,'  replied  the  young  Englishman, 
*  since,  for  my  part,  I  hold  our  strife  at  an  end.  This  gallant 
gentleman  called  me  hither  on  a  trial,  as  I  conceive,  of  cour- 
age :  I  can  give  my  unqualified  testimony  to  his  gallantry  and 
swordsmanship ;  and,  as  I  trust  he  will  say  nothing  to  the  shame 
of  my  manhood,  I  think  our  strife  has  lasted  long  enough  for 
the  purpose  which  gave  rise  to  it.' 

'  Too  long  for  me,'  said  Rudolph,  frankly  :  '  the  green  sleeve 
of  my  doublet,  which  I  wore  of  that  colour  out  of  my  love  to 
the  Forest  Cantons,  is  now  stained  into  as  dirty  a  crimson  as 
could  have  been  done  by  any  dyer  in  Ypres  or  Ghent.  But  I 
heartUy  forgive  the  brave  stranger  who  has  spoiled  my  jerkin, 
and  given  its  master  a  lesson  he  will  not  soon  forget.  Had  all 
Englishmen  been  like  your  guest,  worthy  kinsman,  methinks 
the  mound  at  Buttisholz  had  hardly  risen  so  high.' 

'  Cousin  Rudolph,'  said  the  Landamman,  smoothing  his  brow 
as  his  kinsman  spoke,  '  I  have  ever  thought  thee  as  generous 
as  thou  art  hare-brained  and  quarrelsome  ;  and  you,  my  young 
guest,  may  rely  that,  when  a  Swiss  says  the  quarrel  is  over, 
there  is  no  chance  of  its  being  renewed.  We  are  not  like  the 
men  of  the  valleys  to  the  eastward,  who  nurse  revenge  as  if  it 
were  a  favourite  child.  And  now  join  hands,  my  children,  and 
let  us  forget  this  foolish  feud.' 

'  Here  is  my  hand,  brave  stranger,'  said  Donnerhugel ;  '  thou 


■70  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

hast  taught  me  a  trick  of  fence,  and  when  we  have  broken  our 
fast,  we  will,  by  your  leave,  to  the  forest,  where  I  will  teach 
you  a  trick  of  woodcraft  in  return.  When  your  foot  hath  half 
the  experience  of  your  hand,  and  your  eye  hath  gained  a  portion 
of  the  steadiness  of  your  heart,  you  will  not  find  many  hunters 
to  match  you.' 

Arthur,  with  all  the  ready  confidence  of  youth,  readily  em- 
braced a  proposition  so  irankly  made,  and  before  they  reached 
the  house  various  subjects  of  sport  were  eagerly  discussed 
between  them,  with  as  much  cordiality  as  if  no  disturbance  of 
their  concord  had  taken  place. 

*  Now  this,'  said  the  Landamman,  'is  as  it  should  be.  I  am 
ever  ready  to  forgive  the  headlong  impetuosity  of  our  youth,  if 
they  will  be  but  manly  and  open  in  their  reconciliation,  and  bear 
their  heart  on  their  tongue,  as  a  true  Swiss  should.' 

*  These  two  youths  had  made  but  wild  work  of  it,  however,' 
said  Philipson,  '  had  not  your  care,  my  worthy  host,  learned  of 
their  rendezvous,  and  called  me  to  assist  in  breaking  their 
purpose.  May  I  ask  how  it  came  to  your  knowledge  so 
opportunely?' 

'  It  was  e'en  through  means  of  my  domestic  fairy,'  answered 
Arnold  Biederman,  '  who  seems  born  for  the  good  luck  of  my 
family  —  I  mean  my  niece,  Anne,  who  had  observed  a  glove 
exchanged  betwixt  the  two  young  braggadocios,  and  heard  them 
mention  Geierstein  and  break  of  day.  0,  sir,  it  is  much  to  see 
a  woman's  sharpness  of  wit !  It  would  have  been  long  enough 
ere  any  of  my  thick-headed  sons  had  shown  themselves  so 
apprehensive.' 

*  I  think  I  see  our  propitious  protectress  peeping  at  us  fi-om 
yonder  high  ground,'  said  Philipson ;  *  but  it  seems  as  if  she 
would  willingly  observe  us  without  being  seen  in  return.' 

*  Ay,'  said  the  Landamman,  *  she  has  been  looking  out  to  see 
that  there  has  been  no  hurt  done  ;  and  now,  I  warrant  me,  the 
foolish  girl  is  ashamed  of  having  shown  such  a  laudable  degree 
of  interest  in  a  matter  of  the  kind.' 

*  Methinks,'  said  the  Englishman,  *  I  would  willingly  return 
my  thanks,  in  your  presence,  to  the  fair  maiden  to  whom  I 
have  been  so  highly  indebted.' 

'  There  can  be  no  better  time  than  the  present,'  said  the 
Landamman ;  and  he  sent  through  the  groves  the  maiden's 
name,  in  one  of  those  shrilly  accented  tones  which  we  have 
already  noticed. 

Anne  of  Geierstein,  as  Philipson  had  before  observed,  was 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  71 

stationed  upon  a  knoll  at  some  distance,  and  concealed,  as  she 
thought,  from  notice  by  a  screen  of  brushwood.  She  started 
at  her  uncle's  summons,  therefore,  but  presently  obeyed  it; 
and,  avoiding  the  young  men,  who  passed  on  foremost,  she 
joined  the  Landamman  and  Philipson  by  a  circuitous  path 
through  the  woods. 

'  My  worthy  friend  and  guest  would  speak  with  you,  Anne,' 
said  the  Landamman,  so  soon  as  the  morning  greeting  had  been 
exchanged.  The  Swiss  maiden  coloured  over  brow  as  well  as 
cheek  when  Philipson,  with  a  grace  which  seemed  beyond  his 
calling,  addressed  her  in  these  words  — 

*It  happens  sometimes  to  us  merchants,  my  fair  young 
friend,  that  we  are  unlucky  enough  not  to  possess  means  for 
the  instant  defraying  of  our  debts;  but  he  is  justly  held 
amongst  us  as  the  meanest  of  mankind  who  does  not  acknowl- 
edge them.  Accept,  therefore,  the  thanks  of  a  father  whose 
son  your  courage,  only  yesterday,  saved  from  destruction,  and 
whom  your  prudence  has,  this  very  morning,  rescued  from  a 
great  danger.  And  grieve  me  not  by  refusing  to  wear  these 
ear-rings,'  he  added,  producing  a  small  jewel-case,  which  he 
opened  as  he  spoke ;  '  they  are,  it  is  true,  only  of  pearls, 
but  they  have  not  been  thought  unworthy  the  ears  of  a 
countess ' 

*And  must,  therefore,'  said  the  old  Landamman,  'show  mis- 
placed on  the  person  of  a  Swiss  maiden  of  Unterwalden ;  for 
such  and  no  more  is  my  niece  Anne  while  she  resides  in  my 
solitude.  Methinks,  good  Master  Philipson,  you  display  less 
than  your  usual  judgment  in  matching  the  quality  of  your 
gifts  with  the  rank  of  her  on  whom  they  are  bestowed ;  as  a 
merchant,  too,  you  should  remember  that  large  guerdons  will 
lighten  your  gains.' 

'Let  me  crave  your  pardon,  my  good  host,'  answered  the 
Englishman,  '  while  I  reply,  that  at  least  I  have  consulted  my 
own  sense  of  the  obligation  under  which  I  labour,  and  have 
chosen,  out  of  what  I  have  at  my  free  disposal,  that  which  I 
thought  might  best  express  it.  I  trust  the  host  whom  I  have 
found  hitherto  so  kind  will  not  prevent  this  young  maiden 
from  accepting  what  is  at  least  not  unbecoming  the  rank  she  is 
born  to;  and  you  will  judge  me  unjustly  if  you  think  me 
capable  of  doing  either  myself  or  you  the  wrong  of  offering  any 
token  of  a  value  beyond  what  I  can  well  spare.' 

The  Landamman  took  the  jewel-case  into  his  own  hand. 

*I  have  ever  set  my  countenance,'  he  said,  'against  gaudy 


n  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

gems,  which  are  leading  us  daily  further  astray  from  the  sun- 
plicity  of  our  fathers  and  mothers.  And  yet,'  he  added,  with  a 
good-humoured  smile,  and  holding  one  of  the  ear-rings  close  to 
his  relation's  face,  '  the  ornaments  do  set  off  the  wench  rarely, 
and  they  say  girls  have  more  pleasure  in  wearing  such  toys 
than  grey-haired  men  can  comprehend ;  wherefore,  dear  Anne, 
as  thou  hast  deserved  a  dearer  trust  in  a  greater  matter,  I 
refer  thee  entirely  to  thine  own  wisdom,  to  accept  of  our  good 
friend's  costly  present  and  wear  it  or  not  as  thou  thinkest  fit.' 

*  Since  such  is  your  pleasure,  my  best  friend  and  kinsman,' 
said  the  young  maiden,  blushing  as  she  spoke,  '  I  will  not  give 
pain  to  our  valued  guest  by  refusing  what  he  desires  so  earnestly 
that  I  should  accept ;  but,  by  his  leave,  good  uncle,  and  yours, 
I  will  bestow  these  splendid  ear-rings  on  the  shrine  of  Our  Lady 
of  Einsiedlen,  to  express  our  general  gratitude  to  her  protecting 
favour,  which  has  been  around  us  in  the  terrors  of  yesterday's 
storm  and  the  alarms  of  this  morning's  discord.' 

'  By  Our  Lady,  the  wench  speaks  sensibly ! '  said  the  Lan- 
damman;  'and  her  wisdom  has  applied  the  bounty  well,  my 
good  guest,  to  bespeak  prayers  for  thy  family  and  mine,  and 
for  the  general  peace  of  Unterwalden.  Go  to,  Anne,  thou  shalt 
have  a  necklace  of  jet  at  next  shearing-feast,  if  our  fleeces  bear 
any  price  in  the  market.' 


CHAPTER  VII 

Let  him  who  will  not  profiFer'd  peace  receive 
Be  sated  with  the  plagues  which  war  can  give  ; 
And  well  thy  hatred  of  the  peace  is  known, 
If  now  thy  soul  reject  the  friendship  shown. 

Hoole's  Tasso. 

THE  confidence  betwixt  the  Landamman  and  the  English 
merchant  appeared  to  increase  during  the  course  of  a 
few  busy  days,  which  occurred  before  that  appointed 
for  the  commencement  of  their  journey  to  the  court  of  Charles 
of  Burgundy.  The  state  of  Europe,  and  of  the  Helvetian  Con- 
federacy, has  been  already  alluded  to ;  but,  for  the  distinct 
explanation  of  our  story,  may  be  here  briefly  recapitulated. 

In  the  interval  of  a  week,  whilst  the  English  travellers 
remained  at  Geierstein,  meetings  or  diets  were  held,  as  well  of 
the  City  Cantons  of  the  Confederacy  as  of  those  of  the  Forest. 
The  former,  aggrieved  by  the  taxes  imposed  on  their  commerce 
by  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  rendered  yet  more  intolerable  by 
the  violence  of  the  agents  whom  he  employed  in  such  oppres- 
sion, were  eager  for  war,  in  which  they  had  hitherto  uniformly 
found  victory  and  wealth.  Many  of  them  were  also  privately 
instigated  to  arms  by  the  largesses  of  Louis  XL,  who  spared 
neither  intrigues  nor  gold  to  effect  a  breach  betwixt  these 
dauntless  confederates  and  his  formidable  enemy,  Charles  the 
Bold. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  were  many  reasons  which  appeared 
to  render  it  impolitic  for  the  Switzers  to  engage  in  war  with 
one  of  the  most  wealthy,  most  obstinate,  and  most  powerful 
princes  in  Europe  —  for  such  unquestionably  was  Charles  of 
Burgundy  —  without  the  existence  of  some  strong  reason  affect- 
ing their  own  honour  and  independence.  Every  day  brought 
fresh  intelligence  from  the  interior,  that  Edward  the  Fourth 
of  England  had  entered  into  a  strict  and  intimate  alliance, 
offensive  and  defensive,  with  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  and  that 


74  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

it  was  the  purpose  of  the  English  king,  renowned  for  his 
numerous  victories  over  the  rival  house  of  Lancaster,  by  which, 
after  various  reverses,  he  had  obtained  undisputed  possession 
of  the  throne,  to  reassert  his  claims  to  those  provinces  of 
France  so  long  held  by  his  ancestors.  It  seemed  as  if  this 
alone  were  wanting  to  his  fame,  and  that,  having  subdued  his 
internal  enemies,  he  now  turned  his  eyes  to  the  regaining  of 
those  rich  and  valuable  foreign  possessions  which  had  been  lost 
during  the  administration  of  the  feeble  Henry  VI.  and  the  civil 
discords  so  dreadfully  prosecuted  in  the  wars  of  the  White  and 
Red  Roses.  It  was  universally  known  that,  throughout  Eng- 
land generally,  the  loss  of  the  French  provinces  was  felt  as  a 
national  degradation  ;  and  that  not  only  the  nobility,  who  had 
in  consequence  been  deprived  of  the  large  fiefs  which  they  had 
held  in  Normandy,  Gascony,  Maine,  and  Anjou,  but  the  war- 
like gentry,  accustomed  to  gain  both  fame  and  wealth  at  the 
expense  of  France,  and  the  fiery  yeomanry,  whose  bows  had 
decided  so  many  fatal  battles,  were  as  eager  to  renew  the  con- 
flict as  their  ancestors  of  Cressy,  Poitiers,  and  Agincourt  had 
been  to  follow  their  sovereign  to  the  fields  of  victory,  on  which 
their  deeds  had  conferred  deathless  renown. 

The  latest  and  most  authentic  intelligence  bore,  that  the 
King  of  England  was  on  the  point  of  passing  to  France  in 
person  (an  invasion  rendered  easy  by  his  possession  of  Calais), 
with  an  army  superior  in  numbers  and  discipline  to  any  with 
which  an  English  monarch  had  ever  before  entered  that  king- 
dom; that  all  the  hostile  preparations  were  completed,  and 
that  the  arrival  of  Edward  might  instantly  be  expected  ;  whilst 
the  powerful  co-operation  of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  and  the 
assistance  of  numerous  disaffected  French  noblemen  in  the 
provinces  which  had  been  so  long  under  the  English  dominion, 
threatened  a  fearful  issue  of  the  war  to  Louis  XL,  sagacious, 
wise,  and  powerful  as  that  prince  unquestionably  was. 

It  would  no  doubt  have  been  the  wisest  policy  of  Charles  of 
Burgundy,  when  thus  engaging  in  an  alliance  against  his  most 
formidable  neighbour,  and  hereditary  as  well  as  personal 
enemy,  to  have  avoided  aU  cause  of  quarrel  with  the  Helvetian 
Confederacy,  a  poor  but  most  warlike  people,  who  already  had 
been  taught  by  repeated  successes  to  feel  that  their  hardy 
infantry  could,  if  necessary,  engage  on  terms  of  equality,  or 
even  of  advantage,  the  flower  of  that  chivalry  which  had 
hitherto  been  considered  as  forming  the  strength  of  European 
battle.     But    the    measures  of   Charles,   whom    fortune  had 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  75 

opposed  to  the  most  astucious  and  politic  monarch  of  his  time, 
were  always  dictated  by  passionate  feeling  and  impulse,  rather 
than  by  a  judicious  consideration  of  the  circumstances  in  which 
he  stood.  Haughty,  proud,  and  uncompromising,  though 
neither  destitute  of  honour  nor  generosity,  he  despised  and 
hated  what  he  termed  the  paltry  associations  of  herdsmen  and 
shepherds,  united  with  a  few  towns  which  subsisted  chiefly  by 
commerce ;  and  instead  of  courting  the  Helvetian  cantons,  like 
his  crafty  enemy,  or  at  least  affording  them  no  ostensible  pre- 
tence of  quarrel,  he  omitted  no  opportunity  of  showing  the 
disregard  and  contempt  in  which  he  held  their  upstart  conse- 
quence, and  of  evincing  the  secret  longing  which  he  entertained 
to  take  vengeance  upon  them  for  the  quantity  of  noble  blood 
which  they  had  shed,  and  to  compensate  the  repeated  successes 
they  had  gained  over  the  feudal  lords,  of  whom  he  imagined 
himself  the  destined  avenger. 

The  Duke  of  Burgundy's  possessions  in  the  Alsatian  terri- 
tory afforded  him  many  opportunities  for  wreaking  his  dis- 
pleasure upon  the  Swiss  League.  The  little  castle  and  town  of 
Ferette,  l3^ng  within  ten  or  eleven  miles  of  B^le,  served  as  a 
thoroughfare  to  the  traffic  of  Berne  and  Soleure,  the  two 
principal  towns  of  the  confederation.  In  this  place  the  Duke 
posted  a  governor,  or  seneschal,  who  was  also  an  administrator 
of  the  revenue,  and  seemed  born  on  purpose  to  be  the  plague 
and  scourge  of  his  republican  neighbours. 

Archibald  von  Hagenbach  was  a  German  noble,  whose  pos- 
sessions lay  in  Swabia,  and  was  universally  esteemed  one  of  the 
fiercest  and  most  lawless  of  that  frontier  nobility  known  by 
the  name  of  robber-knights  and  robber-counts.  These  digni- 
taries, because  they  held  their  fiefs  of  the  Holy  Roman  Empire, 
claimed  as  complete  sovereignty  within  their  territories  of  a 
mile  square  as  any  reigning  prince  of  Germany  in  his  more 
extended  dominions.  They  levied  tolls  and  taxes  on  strangers, 
and  imprisoned,  tried,  and  executed  those  who,  as  they  alleged, 
had  committed  offences  within  their  petty  domains.  But 
especially,  and  in  further  exercise  of  their  seignorial  privileges, 
they  made  war  on  each  other,  and  on  the  free  cities  of  the 
Empire,  attacking  and  plundering  without  mercy  the  caravans, 
or  large  trains  of  waggons,  by  which  the  internal  commerce  of 
Germany  was  carried  on. 

A  succession  of  injuries  done  and  received  by  Archibald  of 
Hagenbach,  who  had  been  one  of  the  fiercest  sticklers  for  this 
privilege  of  faustrecht  or  club-law,  as  it  may  be  termed,  had 


76  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

ended  in  his  being  obliged,  though  somewhat  advanced  in  life, 
to  leave  a  country  where  his  tenure  of  existence  was  become 
extremely  precarious,  and  to  engage  in  the  service  of  the  Duke 
of  Burgundy,  who  willingly  employed  him,  as  he  was  a  man  of 
high  descent  and  proved  valour,  and  not  the  less,  perhaps,  that 
he  was  sure  to  find,  in  a  man  of  Hagenbach's  fierce,  rapacious, 
and  haughty  disposition,  the  unscrupulous  executioner  of  what- 
soever severities  it  might  be  his  master's  pleasure  to  enjoin. 

The  traders  of  Berne  and  Soleure,  accordingly,  made  loud 
and  violent  complaints  of  Hagenbach's  exactions.  The  imposi- 
tions laid  on  commodities  which  passed  through  his  district  of 
La  Ferette,  to  whatever  place  they  might  be  ultimately  bound, 
were  arbitrarily  increased,  and  the  merchants  and  traders  who 
hesitated  to  make  instant  payment  of  what  was  demanded  were 
exposed  to  imprisonment  and  personal  punishment.  The  com- 
mercial towns  of  Germany  appealed  to  the  Duke  against  this 
iniquitous  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  governor  of  La  Ferette, 
and  requested  of  his  Grace's  goodness  that  he  would  with- 
draw Von  Hagenbach  from  their  neighbourhood;  but  the 
Duke  treated  their  complaints  with  contempt.  The  Swiss 
League  carried  their  remonstrances  higher,  and  required  that 
justice  should  be  done  on  the  governor  of  La  Ferette,  as  hav- 
ing offended  against  the  law  of  nations ;  but  they  were  equally 
unable  to  attract  attention  or  obtain  redress. 

At  length  the  Diet  of  the  Confederation  determined  to  send 
the  solemn  deputation  which  has  been  repeatedly  mentioned. 
One  or  two  of  these  envoys  joined  with  the  calm  and  prudent 
Arnold  Biederman  in  the  hope  that  so  solemn  a  measure  might 
open  the  eyes  of  the  Duke  to  the  wicked  injustice  of  his  repre- 
sentative ;  others  among  the  deputies,  having  no  such  peaceful 
views,  were  determined,  by  this  resolute  remonstrance,  to  pave 
the  way  for  hostilities. 

Arnold  Biederman  was  an  especial  advocate  for  peace,  while 
its  preservation  was  compatible  with  national  independence  and 
the  honour  of  the  Confederacy ;  but  the  younger  Pnilipson  soon 
discovered  that  the  Landamman  alone,  of  all  his  family,  cherished 
these  moderate  views.  The  opinion  of  his  sons  had  been  swayed 
and  seduced  by  the  impetuous  eloquence  and  overbearing  in- 
fluence of  Rudolph  of  Donnerhugel,  who,  by  some  feats  of 
Eeculiar  gallantry,  and  the  consideration  due  to  the  merit  of 
is  ancestors,  had  acquired  an  influence  in  the  councils  of  his 
native  canton,  and  with  the  youth  of  the  League  in  general, 
beyond  what  was  usually  yielded  by  these  wise  republicans  to 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  77 

men  of  his  early  age.  Arthur,  who  was  now  an  acceptable  and 
welcome  companion  of  all  their  hunting-parties  and  other 
sports,  heard  nothing  among  the  young  men  but  anticipations 
of  war,  rendered  delightful  by  the  hopes  of  booty  and  of  distinc- 
tion which  were  to  be  obtained  by  the  Switzers.  The  feats  of 
their  ancestors  against  the  Germans  had  been  so  wonderful  as 
to  realise  the  fabulous  victories  of  romance ;  and  while  the 
present  race  possessed  the  same  hardy  limbs,  and  the  same 
inflexible  courage,  they  eagerly  anticipated  the  same  distin- 
guished success.  When  the  governor  of  La  Ferette  was  men- 
tioned in  the  conversation,  he  was  usually  spoken  of  as  the 
bandog  of  Burgundy,  or  the  Alsatian  mastiff ;  and  intimations 
were  openly  given  that,  if  his  course  were  not  instantly  checked 
by  his  master,  and  he  himself  withdrawn  from  the  frontiers  of 
Switzerland,  Archibald  of  Hagenbach  would  find  his  fortress 
no  protection  from  the  awakened  indignation  of  the  wronged 
inhabitants  of  Soleure,  and  particularly  of  those  of  Berne. 

This  general  disposition  to  war  among  the  young  Switzers 
was  reported  to  the  elder  Philipson  by  his  son,  and  led  him  at 
one  time  to  hesitate  whether  he  ought  not  rather  to  resume  all 
the  inconveniences  and  dangers  of  a  journey  accompanied  only 
by  Arthur  than  run  the  risk  of  the  quarrels  in  which  he  might 
be  involved  by  the  unruly  conduct  of  these  fierce  mountain 
youths,  after  they  should  have  left  their  own  frontiers.  Such 
an  event  would  have  had,  in  a  peculiar  degree,  the  effect  of 
destroying  every  purpose  of  his  journey;  but,  respected  as 
Arnold  Biederman  was  by  his  family  and  countrymen,  the 
English  merchant  concluded,  upon  the  whole,  that  his  influence 
would  be  able  to  restrain  his  companions  until  the  great  ques- 
tion of  peace  or  war  should  be  determined,  and  especially  until 
they  should  have  discharged  their  commission  by  obtaining  an 
audience  of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy ;  and  after  this  he  should 
be  separated  from  their  society,  and  not  liable  to  be  engaged  in 
any  responsibility  for  their  ulterior  measures. 

After  a  delay  of  about  ten  days,  the  deputation  commis- 
sioned to  remonstrate  with  the  Duke  on  the  aggressions  and 
exactions  of  Archibald  of  Hagenbach  at  length  assembled  at 
Geierstein,  from  whence  the  members  were  to  journey  forth 
together.  They  were  three  in  number,  besides  the  young 
Bernese  and  the  Landamman  of  Unterwalden.  One  was,  like 
Arnold,  a  proprietor  from  the  Forest  Cantons,  wearing  a  dress 
scarcely  handsomer  than  that  of  a  common  herdsman,  but  dis- 
tinguished by  the  beauty  and  size  of  his  long  silvery  beard. 


78  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

His  name  was  Nicholas  Bonstetten.  Melchior  Sturmthal, 
banner-bearer  of  Berne,  a  man  of  middle  age,  and  a  soldier 
of  distinguished  courage,  with  Adam  Zimmerman,  a  burgess  of 
Soleure,  who  was  considerably  older,  completed  the  number  of 
the  envoys. 

Each  was  dressed  after  his  best  fashion ;  but,  notwithstand- 
ing that  the  severe  eye  of  Arnold  Biederman  censured  one  or 
two  silver  belt-buckles,  as  well  as  a  chain  of  the  same  metal, 
which  decorated  the  portly  person  of  the  burgess  of  Soleure,  it 
seemed  that  a  powerful  and  victorious  people,  for  such  the 
Swiss  were  now  to  be  esteemed,  were  never  represented  by  an 
embassy  of  such  patriarchal  simplicity.  The  deputies  travelled 
on  foot,  with  their  piked  staves  in  their  hands,  like  pilgrims 
bound  for  some  place  of  devotion.  Two  mules,  which  bore 
their  little  stock  of  baggage,  were  led  by  young  lads,  sons  or 
cousins  of  members  of  the  embassy,  who  had  obtained  permis- 
sion in  this  manner  to  get  such  a  glance  of  the  world  beyond 
the  mountains  as  this  journey  promised  to  afford. 

But  although  their  retinue  was  small,  so  far  as  respected 
either  state  or  personal  attendance  and  accommodation,  the 
dangerous  circumstances  of  the  times,  and  the  very  unsettled 
state  of  the  country  beyond  their  own  territories,  did  not  per- 
mit men  charged  with  affairs  of  such  importance  to  travel 
without  a  guard.  Even  the  danger  arising  from  the  wolves, 
which,  when  pinched  by  the  approach  of  winter,  have  been 
known  to  descend  from  their  mountain  fastnesses  into  open 
villages,  such  as  those  the  travellers  might  choose  to  quarter 
in,  rendered  the  presence  of  some  escort  necessary ;  and  the 
bands  of  deserters  from  various  services,  who  formed  parties  of 
banditti  on  the  frontiers  of  Alsatia  and  Germany,  combined  to 
recommend  such  a  precaution. 

Accordingly,  about  twenty  of  the  selected  youth  from  the 
various  Swiss  cantons,  including  Rudiger,  Ernest,  and  Sigis- 
mund,  Arnold's  three  eldest  sons,  attended  upon  the  deputa- 
tion ;  they  did  not,  however,  observe  any  military  order,  or 
march  close  or  near  to  the  patriarchal  train.  On  the  contrary, 
they  formed  hunting-parties  of  five  or  six  together,  who  ex- 
plored the  rocks,  woods,  and  passes  of  the  mountains  through 
which  the  envoys  journeyed.  Their  slower  pace  allowed  the 
active  young  men,  who  were  accompanied  by  tneir  large  shaggy 
dogs,  full  time  to  destroy  wolves  and  bears,  or  occasionally  to 
surprise  a  chamois  among  the  cliffs ;  while  the  hunters,  even 
while  in  pursuit  of  their  sport,  were  careful  to  examine  such 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  79 

places  as  might  afford  opportunity  for  ambush,  and  thus  ascer- 
tained the  safety  of  the  party  whom  they  escorted  more  securely 
than  if  they  had  attended  close  on  their  train.  A  peculiar 
note  on  the  huge  Swiss  bugle,  before  described,  formed  of  the 
horn  of  the  mountain  bull,  was  the  signal  agreed  upon  for 
collecting  in  a  body  should  danger  occur.  Rudolph  Donner- 
hugel,  so  much  younger  than  his  brethren  in  the  same  important 
commission,  took  the  command  of  this  mountain  body-guard, 
whom  he  usually  accompanied  in  their  sportive  excursions.  In 
point  of  arms,  they  were  well  provided,  bearing  two-handed 
swords,  long  partizans  and  spears,  as  well  as  both  cross  and 
long  bows,  short  cutlasses,  and  huntsmen's  knives.  The  heavier 
weapons,  as  impeding  their  activity,  were  carried  with  the  bag- 
gage, but  were  ready  to  be  assumed  on  the  slightest  alarm. 

Arthur  Philipson,  like  his  late  antagonist,  naturally  preferred 
the  company  and  sports  of  the  younger  men  to  the  grave 
conversation  and  slow  pace  of  the  fathers  of  the  mountain 
commonwealth.  There  was,  however,  one  temptation  to  loiter 
with  the  baggage,  which,  had  other  circumstances  permitted, 
might  have  reconciled  the  young  Englishman  to  forego  the 
opportunities  of  sport  which  the  Swiss  youth  so  eagerly  sought 
after,  and  endure  the  slow  pace  and  grave  conversation  of  the 
elders  of  the  party.  In  a  word,  Anne  of  Geierstein,  accom- 
panied by  a  Swiss  girl,  her  attendant,  travelled  in  the  rear  of 
the  deputation. 

The  two  females  were  mounted  upon  asses,  whose  slow  step 
hardly  kept  pace  with  the  baggage  mules ;  and  it  may  be  fairly 
suspected  that  Arthur  Philipson,  in  requital  of  the  important 
services  which  he  had  received  from  that  beautiful  and  interest- 
ing young  woman,  would  have  deemed  it  no  extreme  hardship 
to  have  afforded  her  occasionally  his  assistance  on  the  journey, 
and  the  advantage  of  his  conversation  to  relieve  the  tediousness 
of  the  way.  But  he  dared  not  presume  to  offer  attentions 
which  the  customs  of  the  country  did  not  seem  to  permit, 
since  they  were  not  attempted  by  any  of  the  maiden's  cousins, 
or  even  by  Rudolph  Donnerhugel,  who  certainly  had  hitherto 
appeared  to  neglect  no  opportunity  to  recommend  himself  to 
his  fair  cousin.  ^  Besides,  Arthur  had  reflection  enough  to  be 
convinced  that,  in  yielding  to  the  feelings  which  impelled  him 
to  cultivate  the  acquaintance  of  this  amiable  young  person,  he 
would  certainly  incur  the  serious  displeasure  of  his  father,  and 
probably  also  that  of  her  uncle,  by  whose  hospitality  they  had 
profited,  and  whose  safe-conduct  they  were  in  the  act  of  enjoying. 


80  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

The  young  Englishman,  therefore,  pursued  the  same  amuse- 
ments which  interested  the  other  young  men  of  the  party, 
managing  only,  as  frequently  as  their  halts  permitted,  to  ven- 
ture upon  offering  to  the  maiden  such  marks  of  courtesy  as 
could  afford  no  room  for  remark  or  censure.  And  his  character 
as  a  sportsman  being  now  well  established,  he  sometimes  per- 
mitted himself,  even  when  the  game  was  afoot,  to  loiter  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  path  on  which  he  could  at  least  mark  the  flutter 
of  the  grey  wimple  of  Anne  of  Geierstein,  and  the  outline  of 
the  form  which  it  shrouded.  This  indolence,  as  it  seemed,  was 
not  unfavourably  construed  by  his  companions,  being  only 
accounted  an  indifference  to  the  less  noble  or  less  dangerous 
game ;  for  when  the  object  was  a  bear,  wolf,  or  other  animal  of 
prey,  no  spear,  cutlass,  or  bow  of  the  party,  not  even  those 
of  Rudolph  Donnerhugel,  were  so  prompt  in  the  chase  as  those 
of  the  young  Englishman. 

Meantime,  the  elder  Philipson  had  other  and  more  serious 
subjects  of  consideration.  He  was  a  man,  as  the  reader  must 
have  already  seen,  of  much  acquaintance  with  the  world,  in 
which  he  had  acted  parts  different  from  that  which  he  now 
sustained.  Former  feelings  were  recalled  and  awakened  by 
the  view  of  sports  familiar  to  his  early  years.  The  clamour  of 
the  hounds,  echoing  from  the  wild  hills  and  dark  forests  through 
which  they  travelled;  the  sight  of  the  gallant  young  hunts- 
men, appearing,  as  they  brought  the  object  of  their  chase  to 
bay,  amid  airy  cliffs  and  profound  precipices,  which  seemed 
impervious  to  the  human  foot ;  the  sounds  of  halloo  and  horn 
reverberating  from  hill  to  hill,  had  more  than  once  wellnigh 
impelled  him  to  take  a  share  in  the  hazardous  but  animating 
amusement,  which,  next  to  war,  was  then  in  most  parts  of 
Europe  the  most  serious  occupation  of  life.  But  the  feeling 
was  transient,  and  he  became  yet  more  deeply  interested  in 
studying  the  manners  and  opinions  of  the  persons  with  whom 
he  was  travelling. 

They  seemed  to  be  all  coloured  with  the  same  downright 
and  blunt  simplicity  which  characterised  Arnold  Biederman, 
although  it  was  in  none  of  them  elevated  by  the  same  dignity 
of  thought  or  profound  sagacity.  In  speaking  of  the  political 
state  of  their  country,  they  affected  no  secrecy ;  and  although, 
with  the  exception  of  Rudolph,  their  own  young  men  were  not 
admitted  into  their  councils,  the  exclusion  seemed  only  adopted 
with  a  view  to  the  necessary  subordination  of  youth  to  age, 
and  not  for  the  purpose  of  observing  any  mystery.    In  the 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  81 

presence  of  the  elder  Philipson,  they  freely  discussed  the  pre- 
tensions of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  the  means  which  their 
country  possessed  of  maintaining  her  independence,  and  the 
firm  resolution  of  the  Helvetian  League  to  bid  defiance  to  the 
utmost  force  the  world  could  bring  against  it,  rather  than 
submit  to  the  slightest  insult.  In  other  respects,  their  views 
appeared  wise  and  moderate,  although  both  the  banneret  of 
Berne  and  the  consequential  burgher  of  Soleure  seemed  to 
hold  the  consequences  of  war  more  lightly  than  they  were 
viewed  by  the  cautious  Landamman  of  Unterwalden  and  his 
venerable  companion,  Nicholas  Bonstetten,  who  subscribed  to 
all  his  opinions. 

It  frequently  happened  that,  quitting  these  subjects,  the 
conversation  turned  on  such  as  were  less  attractive  to  their 
feUow-traveller.  The  signs  of  the  weather,  the  comparative 
fertility  of  recent  seasons,  the  most  advantageous  mode  of 
managing  their  orchards  and  rearing  their  crops,  though  in- 
teresting to  the  mountaineers  themselves,  gave  Philipson  slender 
amusement;  and  notwithstanding  that  the  excellent  Meinherr 
Zimmerman  of  Soleure  would  fain  have  joined  with  him  in 
conversation  respecting  trade  and  merchandise,  yet  the  English- 
man, who  dealt  in  articles  of  small  bulk  and  considerable  value, 
and  traversed  sea  and  land  to  carry  on  his  traffic,  could  find 
few  mutual  topics  to  discuss  with  the  Swiss  trader,  whose 
commerce  only  extended  into  the  neighbouring  districts  of 
Burgundy  and  Germany,  and  whose  goods  consisted  of  coarse 
woollen  cloths,  fustian,  hides,  peltry,  and  such  ordinary  articles. 

But,  ever  and  anon,  while  the  Switzers  were  discussing 
some  paltry  interests  of  trade,  or  describing  some  process  of 
rude  cultivation,  or  speaking  of  blights  in  grain,  and  the 
murrain  amongst  cattle,  with  aU  the  dull  minuteness  of  petty 
farmers  and  traders  met  at  a  country  fair,  a  well-known  spot 
would  recall  the  name  and  story  of  a  battle  in  which  some  of 
them  had  served  (for  there  were  none  of  the  party  who  had 
not  been  repeatedly  in  arms),  and  the  military  details,  which 
in  other  countries  were  only  the  theme  of  knights  and  squires 
who  had  acted  their  part  in  them,  or  of  learned  clerks  who 
laboured  to  record  them,  were,  in  this  singular  region,  the 
familiar  and  intimate  subjects  of  discussion  with  men  whose 
peaceful  occupations  seemed  to  place  them  at  an  immeasurable 
distance  from  the  profession  of  a  soldier.  This  led  the  English- 
man to  think  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Rome,  where  the 
plough  was  so  readily  exchanged  for  the  sword,  and  the  culti- 

VOL.  XXIII  —  6 


8^  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

Yation  of  a  rude  farm  for  the  management  of  public  affairs. 
He  hinted  this  resemblance  to  the  Landamman,  who  was 
naturally  gratified  with  the  compliment  to  his  country,  but 
presently  replied  — '  May  Heaven  continue  among  us  the  home- 
bred virtues  of  the  Romans,  and  preserve  us  from  their  lust  of 
conquest  and  love  of  foreign  luxuries  ! ' 

The  slow  pace  of  the  travellers,  with  various  causes  of  delay 
which  it  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  upon,  occasioned  the  deputa- 
tions spending  two  nights  on  the  road  before  they  reached  B41e. 
The  small  towns  or  villages  in  which  they  quartered  received 
them  with  such  marks  of  respectful  hospitality  as  they  had  the 
means  to  bestow,  and  their  arrival  was  a  signal  for  a  little  feast, 
with  which  the  heads  of  the  community  uniformly  regaled 
them. 

On  such  occasions,  while  the  elders  of  the  village  enter- 
tained the  deputies  of  the  Confederation,  the  young  men  of  the 
escort  were  provided  for  by  those  of  their  own  age,  several  of 
whom,  usually  aware  of  their  approach,  were  accustomed  to 
join  in  the  chase  of  the  day,  and  made  the  strangers  acquainted 
with  the  spots  where  game  was  most  plenty. 

These  feasts  were  never  prolonged  to  excess,  and  the  most 
special  dainties  which  composed  them  were  kids,  lambs,  and 
game,  the  produce  of  the  mountains.  Yet  it  seemed  both  to 
Arthur  Philipson  and  his  father  that  the  advantages  of  good 
cheer  were  more  prized  by  the  banneret  of  Berne  and  the 
burgess  of  Soleure  than  by  their  host  the  Landamman  and 
the  deputy  of  Schw3rtz.  There  was  no  excess  committed,  as  we 
have  already  said ;  but  the  deputies  first  mentioned  obviously 
understood  the  art  of  selecting  the  choicest  morsels,  and  were 
connoisseurs  in  the  good  wine,  chiefly  of  foreign  growth,  with 
which  they  freely  washed  it  down.  Arnold  was  too  wise  to 
censure  what  he  had  no  means  of  amending  :  he  contented 
himself  by  observing  in  his  own  person  a  rigorous  diet,  living 
indeed  almost  entirely  upon  vegetables  and  fair  water,  in  which 
he  was  closely  imitated  by  the  old  grey-bearded  Nicholas 
Bonstetten,  who  seemed  to  make  it  his  principal  object  to 
follow  the  Landamman's  example  in  everything. 

It  was,  as  we  have  already  said,  the  third  day  after  the 
commencement  of  their  journey  before  the  Swiss  deputation 
reached  the  vicinity  of  Bale,  in  which  city,  then  one  of  the 
largest  in  the  south-western  extremity  of  Germany,  they  pro- 
posed taking  up  their  abode  for  the  evening,  nothing  doubting 
a  fi:iendly  reception.     The  town,  it  is  true,  was  not  then,  nor 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  83 

till  about  thirty  years  afterwards,  a  part  of  the  Swiss  Con- 
federation, to  which  it  was  only  joined  in  1501 ;  but  it  was  a 
Free  Imperial  City,  connected  with  Berne,  Soleure,  Lucerne, 
and  other  towns  of  Switzerland,  by  mutual  interests  and 
constant  intercourse.  It  was  the  object  of  the  deputation  to 
negotiate,  if  possible,  a  peace,  which  could  not  be  more  useful 
to  themselves  than  to  the  city  of  B^le,  considering  the  inter- 
ruptions of  commerce  which  must  be  occasioned  by  a  rupture 
between  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  and  the  cantons,  and  the 
great  advantage  which  that  city  would  derive  by  preserving  a 
neutrality,  situated  as  it  was  betwixt  these  two  hostile  powers. 
They  anticipated,  therefore,  as  welcome  a  reception  from 
the  authorities  of  BMe  as  they  had  received  while  in  the 
bounds  of  their  own  Confederation,  since  the  interests  of  that 
city  were  so  deeply  concerned  in  the  objects  of  their  mission. 
The  next  chapter  wiU  show  how  iax  these  expectations  were 
realised. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

They  saw  that  city,  welcoming  the  Rhine, 
As  from  his  mountain  heritage  he  bursts, 
As  purposed  proud  Orgetorix  of  yore, 
Leaving  the  desert  region  of  the  hills, 
To  lord  it  o'er  the  fertile  plains  of  Gaul. 

Helvetia. 

THE  eyes  of  the  English  travellers,  wearied  with  a  suc- 
cession of  wild  mountainous  scenery,  now  gazed  with 
pleasure  upon  a  country  still  indeed  irregular  and 
hilly  in  its  surface,  but  capable  of  high  cultivation,  and  adorned 
with  cornfields  and  vineyards.  The  Rhine,  a  broad  and  large 
river,  poured  its  grey  stream  in  a  huge  sweep  through  the 
landscape,  and  divided  into  two  portions  the  city  of  BMe, 
which  is  situated  on  its  banks.  The  southern  part,  to  which 
the  path  of  the  Swiss  deputies  conducted  them,  displayed  the 
celebrated  cathedral,  and  the  lofty  terrace  which  runs  in  front 
of  it,  and  seemed  to  remind  the  travellers  that  they  now 
approached  a  country  in  which  the  operations  of  man  could 
make  themselves  distinguished  even  among  the  works  of  nature, 
instead  of  being  lost,  as  the  fate  of  the  most  splendid  efforts  of 
human  labour  must  have  been,  among  those  tremendous  moun- 
tains which  they  had  so  lately  traversed. 

They  were  yet  a  mile  from  the  entrance  of  the  city,  when 
the  party  was  met  by  one  of  the  magistrates,  attended  by  two 
or  three  citizens  mounted  on  mules,  the  velvet  housings  of 
which  expressed  wealth  and  quality.  They  greeted  the  Lan- 
damman  of  Unterwalden  and  his  party  in  a  respectful  manner, 
and  the  latter  prepared  themselves  to  hear  and  make  a  suitable 
reply  to  the  hospitable  invitation  which  they  naturally  expected 
to  receive. 

The  message  of  the  community  of  B^le  was,  however, 
diametrically  opposite  to  what  they  had  anticipated.  It  was 
delivered  with  a  good  deal  of  diffidence  and  hesitation  by  the 
functionary  who  met  them,  and  who  certainly,  while  discharging 
his  commission,  did  not  appear  to  consider  it  as  the  most  re- 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  85 

spectable  which  he  might  have  borne.  There  were  many 
professions  of  the  most  profound  and  fraternal  regard  for  the 
cities  of  the  Helvetian  League,  with  whom  the  orator  of  Bale 
declared  his  own  state  to  be  united  in  friendship  and  interests. 
But  he  ended  by  intimating  that,  on  account  of  certain  cogent 
and  weighty  reasons,  which  should  be  satisfactorily  explained 
at  more  leisure,  the  Free  City  of  Bale  could  not,  this  evening, 
receive  within  its  walls  the  highly  respected  deputies  who  were 
travelling,  at  the  command  of  the  Helvetian  Diet,  to  the  court 
of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy. 

Philipson  marked  with  much  interest  the  effect  which  this 
most  unexpected  intimation  produced  on  the  members  of  the 
embassage.  Rudolph  Donnerhugel,  who  had  joined  their  com- 
pany as  they  approached  Bale,  appeared  less  surprised  than  his 
associates,  and,  while  he  remained  perfectly  silent,  seemed 
rather  anxious  to  penetrate  their  sentiments  than  disposed  to 
express  his  own.  It  was  not  the  first  time  the  sagacious 
merchant  had  observed  that  this  bold  and  fiery  young  man 
could,  when  his  purposes  required  it,  place  a  strong  constraint 
upon  the  natural  impetuosity  of  his  temper.  For  the  others, 
the  banneret's  brow  darkened,  the  face  of  the  burgess  of 
Soleure  became  flushed  like  the  moon  when  rising  in  the  north- 
west, the  grey-bearded  deputy  of  Schwjrtz  looked  anxiously  on 
Arnold  Biederman,  and  the  Landamman  himself  seemed  more 
moved  than  was  usual  in  a  person  of  his  equanimity.  At 
length  he  replied  to  the  functionary  of  Bale,  in  a  voice  some- 
what altered  by  his  feelings  — 

*This  is  a  singular  message  to  the  deputies  of  the  Swiss 
Confederacy,  bound  as  we  are  upon  an  amicable  mission,  on 
which  depends  the  interest  of  the  good  citizens  of  B^le,  whom 
we  have  always  treated  as  our  good  friends,  and  who  still  pro- 
fess to  be  so.  The  shelter  of  their  roofs,  the  protection  of  their 
walls,  the  wonted  intercourse  of  hospitality,  is  what  no  friendly 
state  hath  a  right  to  refuse  to  the  inhabitants  of  another.' 

*  Nor  is  it  with  their  will  that  the  community  of  B4le  refuse 
it,  worthy  Landamman,'  replied  the  magistrate.  *  Not  you 
alone  and  your  worthy  associates,  but  your  escort,  and  your 
very  beasts  of  burden,  should  be  entertained  with  all  the  kind- 
ness which  the  citizens  of  B^le  could  bestow.  But  we  act 
under  constraint.' 

'  And  by  whom  exercised  ? '  said  the  banneret,  bursting  out 
into  passion.  'Has  the  Emperor  Sigismund  profited  so  little 
by  the  example  of  his  predecessors ' 


86  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*The  Emperor,'  replied  the  delegate  of  Bale,  interrupting  the 
banneret,  'is  a  well-intentioned  and  peaceful  monarch,  as  he 
has  been  ever ;  but  —  there  are  Burgundian  troops  of  late 
marched  into  the  Sundgau,  and  messages  have  been  sent  to 
our  state  from  Count  Archibald  of  Hagenbach.' 

'  Enough  said,'  replied  the  Landamman.  'Draw  not  farther 
the  veil  from  a  weakness  for  which  you  blush.  I  comprehend 
you  entirely.  ^  B^le  lies  too  near  the  citadel  of  La  Ferette  to 
permit  its  citizens  to  consult  their  own  inclinations.  Brother, 
we  see  where  your  difficulty  lies ;  we  pity  you  —  and  we  forgive 
your  inhospitality.' 

'  Nay,  but  hear  me  to  an  end,  worthy  Landamman,'  answered 
the  magistrate.  '  There  is  here  in  the  vicinity  an  old  hunting- 
seat  of  the  Counts  of  Falkenstein,  called  Graffslust,^  which, 
though  ruinous,  yet  may  afford  better  lodgings  than  the  open 
air,  and  is  capable  of  some  defence  —  though  Heaven  forbid 
that  any  one  should  dare  to  intrude  upon  your  repose  !  And 
harkye  hither,  my  worthy  friends ;  if  you  find  in  the  old 
place  some  refreshments,  as  wine,  beer,  and  the  like,  use  them 
without  scruple,  for  they  are  there  for  your  accommodation.' 

'  I  do  not  refuse  to  occupy  a  place  of  security,'  said  the 
Landamman;  'for  although  the  causing  ns  to  be  excluded 
from  B^le  may  be  only  done  in  the  spirit  of  petty  insolence  and 
malice,  yet  it  may  also,  for  what  we  can  tell,  be  connected 
with  some  purpose  of  violence.  Your  provisions  we  thank  you 
for;  but  we  will  not,  with  my  consent,  feed  at  the  cost  of 
friends  who  are  ashamed  to  own  us  unless  by  stealth.' 

'  One  thing  more,  my  worthy  sir,'  said  the  official  of  B^le. 
*  You  have  a  maiden  in  company,  who,  I  presume  to  think,  is 
your  daughter.  There  is  but  rough  accommodation  where  you 
are  going,  even  for  men ;  for  women  there  is  little  better, 
though  what  we  could  we  have  done  to  arrange  matters  as  well 
as  may  be.  But  rather  let  your  daughter  go  with  us  back  to 
B^le,  where  my  dame  will  be  a  mother  to  her  till  next  morning, 
when  I  will  bring  her  to  your  camp  in  safety.  We  promised 
to  shut  our  gates  against  the  men  of  the  Confederacy,  but  the 
women  were  not  mentioned.' 

'  You  are  subtle  casuists,  you  men  of  B4le,'  answered  the 
Landamman ;  'but  know  that,  from  the  time  in  which  the 
Helvetians  sallied  forth  to  encounter  Caesar  down  to  the  present 
hour,  the  women  of  Switzerland,  in  the  press  of  danger,  have 
had  their  abode  in  the  camp  of  their  fathers,  brothers,  and 

»  Graffslust  —  i.e.  Count's-dellght, 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  87 

husbands,  and  sought  no  farther  safety  than  they  might  find 
in  the  courage  of  their  relations.  We  have  enough  of  men  to 
protect  our  women,  and  my  niece  shall  remain  with  us  and 
take  the  fate  which  Heaven  may  send  us.' 

'  Adieu,  then,  worthy  friend,'  said  the  magistrate  of  B41e ; 
*  it  grieves  me  to  part  with  you  thus,  but  evil  fate  will  have  it 
so.  Yonder  grassy  avenue  will  conduct  you  to  the  old  hunting- 
seat,  where  Heaven  send  that  you  may  pass  a  quiet  night ;  for, 
apart  from  other  risks,  men  say  that  these  ruins  have  no  good 
name.  "Will  you  yet  permit  your  niece,  since  such  the  young 
person  is,  to  pass  to  B41e  for  the  night  in  my  company  1 ' 

'If  we  are  disturbed  by  beings  like  ourselves,'  said  Arnold 
Biederman,  *  we  have  strong  arms  and  heavy  partizans ;  if  we 
should  be  visited,  as  your  words  would  imply,  by  those  of  a 
different  description,  we  have,  or  should  have,  good  consciences, 
and  confidence  in  Heaven.  Goodfriends,  my  brethren  on  this 
embassy,  have  I  spoken  your  sentiments  as  well  as  mine  own  1 ' 

The  other  deputies  intimated  their  assent  to  what  their 
companion  had  said,  and  the  citizens  of  Bale  took  a  courteous 
farewell  of  their  guests,  endeavouring,  by  the  excess  of  civility, 
to  atone  for  their  deficiency  in  effective  hospitality.  After 
their  departure,  Rudolph  was  the  first  to  express  his  sense  of 
their  pusillanimous  behaviour,  on  which  he  had  been  silent 
during  their  presence.  *  Coward  dogs  ! '  he  said ;  '  may  the 
Butcher  of  Burgundy  flay  the  very  skins  from  them  with  his 
exactions,  to  teach  them  to  disown  old  friendships,  rather  than 
abide  the  lightest  blast  of  a  tyrant's  anger ! ' 

'  And  not  even  their  own  tyrant  either,'  said  another  of  the 
group ;  for  several  of  the  young  men  had  gathered  round  their 
seniors,  to  hear  the  welcome  which  they  expected  from  the 
magistrates  of  Bale. 

'  No,'  replied  Ernest,  one  of  Arnold  Biederman's  sons,  'they 
do  not  pretend  that  their  own  prince  the  Emperor  hath  inter- 
fered with  them  ;  but  a  word  of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  which 
should  be  no  more  to  them  than  a  breath  of  wind  from  the 
west,  is  sufficient  to  stir  them  to  such  brutal  inhospitality.  It 
were  well  to  march  to  the  city  and  compel  them  at  the  sword's 
point  to  give  us  shelter.' 

A  murmur  of  applause  arose  amongst  the  youth  around, 
which  awakened  the  displeasure  of  Arnold  Biederman. 

'Did  I  hear,'  he  said,  'the  tongue  of  a  son  of  mine,  or  was 
it  that  of  a  brutish  lanzknecht,^  who  has  no  pleasure  but  in 

^  A  private  soldier  of  the  German  infantry. 


88  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

battle  or  violence  ?  Where  is  the  modesty  of  the  youth  of 
Switzerland,  who  were  wont  to  wait  the  signal  for  action  till  it 
pleased  the  elders  of  the  canton  to  give  it,  and  were  as  gentle 
as  maidens  till  the  voice  of  their  patriarchs  bade  them  be  bold 
as  lions  ? ' 

'I  meant  no  harm,  father,'  said  Ernest,  abashed  with  this 
rebuke,  *  far  less  any  slight  towards  you ;  but  I  must  needs 
say ' 

'Say  not  a  word,  my  son,'  replied  Arnold,  *but  leave  our 
camp  to-morrow  by  break  of  day ;  and,  as  thou  takest  thy  way 
back  to  Geierstein,  to  which  I  command  thine  instant  return, 
remember,  that  he  is  not  fit  to  visit  strange  countries  who  can- 
not rule  his  tongue  before  his  own  countrymen,  and  to  his  own 
father.' 

The  banneret  of  Berne,  the  burgess  of  Soleure,  even  the 
long-bearded  deputy  from  Schwytz,  endeavoured  to  intercede 
for  the  offender  and  obtain  a  remission  of  his  banishment ;  but 
it  was  in  vain. 

'No,  my  good  friends  and  brethren  —  no,'  replied  Arnold. 
*  These  young  men  require  an  example ;  and  though  I  am 
grieved  in  one  sense  that  the  offence  has  chanced  within  my 
own  family,  yet  I  am  pleased  in  another  light  that  the  delin- 
quent should  be  one  over  whom  I  can  exercise  full  authority, 
without  suspicion  of  partiality.  Ernest,  my  son,  thou  hast 
heard  my  commands.  Return  to  Geierstein  with  the  morning's 
light,  and  let  me  find  thee  an  altered  man  when  I  return 
thither.' 

The  young  Swiss,  who  was  evidently  much  hurt  and  shocked 
at  this  public  affront,  placed  one  knee  on  the  ground  and 
kissed  his  father's  right  hand,  while  Arnold,  without  the 
slightest  sign  of  anger,  bestowed  his  blessing  upon  him ;  and 
Ernest,  without  a  word  of  remonstrance,  fell  into  the  rear  of  the 

Earty.  The  deputation  then  proceeded  down  the  avenue  which 
ad  been  pointed  out  to  them,  and  at  the  bottom  of  which  arose 
the  massy  ruins  of  Graffslust;  but  there  was  not  enough  of 
daylight  remaining  to  discern  their  exact  form.  They  could 
observe  as  they  drew  nearer,  and  as  the  night  became  darker, 
that  three  or  four  windows  were  lighted  up,  while  the  rest  of 
the  front  remained  obscured  in  gloom.  When  they  arrived  at 
the  place,  they  perceived  it  was  surrounded  by  a  large  and 
deep  moat,  the  sullen  surface  of  which  reflected,  though  faintly, 
the  glimmer  of  the  lights  within. 


CHAPTER   IX 

Francisco.   Give  you  good-night. 
Marcellus.   O,  farewell,  honest  soldier. 

Who  hath  relieved  you  ? 
Francisco.   Give  you  good-night ;  Bernado  hath  my  place. 

Hamlet. 

THE  first  occupation  of  our  travellers  was  to  find  the 
means  of  crossing  the  moat,  and  they  were  not  long  of 
discovering  the  tete-du-pont  on  which  the  drawbridge, 
when  lowered,  had  formerly  rested.  The  bridge  itself  had  been 
long  decayed,  but  a  temporary  passage  of  fir-trees  and  planks 
had  been  constructed,  apparently  very  lately,  which  admitted 
them  to  the  chief  entrance  of  the  castle.  On  entering  it,  they 
found  a  wicket  opening  under  the  archway,  which,  glimmering 
with  light,  served  to  guide  them  to  a  hall  prepared  evidently  for 
their  accommodation  as  well  as  circumstances  had  admitted  of. 

A  large  fire  of  well-seasoned  wood  burned  blithely  in  the 
chimney,  and  had  been  maintained  so  long  there,  that  the  air 
of  the  hall,  notwithstanding  its  great  size  and  somewhat  ruinous 
aspect,  felt  mild  and  genial.  There  was  also  at  the  end  of  the 
apartment  a  stack  of  wood,  large  enough  to  maintain  the  fire 
had  they  been  to  remain  there  a  week.  Two  or  three  long 
tables  in  the  hall  stood  covered  and  ready  for  their  reception ; 
and,  on  looking  more  closely,  several  large  hampers  were  found 
in  a  corner,  containing  cold  provisions  of  every  kind,  prepared 
with  great  care  for  their  immediate  use.  The  eyes  of  the 
good  burgess  of  Soleure  twinkled  when  he  beheld  the  young 
men  in  the  act  of  transferring  the  supper  fi-om  the  hampers 
and  arranging  it  on  the  table. 

'Well,'  said  he,  'these  poor  men  of  B41e  have  saved  their 
character ;  since,  if  they  have  fallen  short  in  welcome,  they 
have  abounded  in  good  cheer.' 

'  Ah,  friend ! '  said  Arnold  Biederman,  '  the  absence  of  the 
landlord  is  a  great  deduction  fi-om  the  entertainment.     Better 


90  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

half  an  apple  from  the  hand  of  your  host  than  a  bridal  feast 
without  his  company.' 

*  We  owe  them  the  less  for  their  banquet/  said  the  banneret. 
*  But,  from  the  doubtful  language  they  held,  I  should  judge  it 
meet  to  keep  a  strong  guard  to-night,  and  even  that  some  of 
our  young  men  should,  from  time  to  time,  patrol  around  the 
old  ruins.  The  place  is  strong  and  defensible,  and  so  far  our 
thanks  are  due  to  those  who  have  acted  as  our  quartermasters. 
"We  will,  however,  with  your  permission,  my  honoured  brethren, 
examine  the  house  within,  and  then  arrange  regular  guards 
and  patrols.  To  your  duty  then,  young  men,  and  search  these 
ruins  carefully;  they  may  perchance  contain  more  than  our- 
selves ;  for  we  are  now  near  one  who,  like  a  pilfering  fox,  moves 
more  willingly  by  night  than  by  day,  and  seeks  his  prey  amidst 
ruins  and  wildernesses  rather  than  in  the  open  field.' 

All  agreed  to  this  proposal.  The  young  men  took  torches,- 
of  which  a  good  provision  had  been  left  for  their  use,  and  made 
a  strict  search  through  the  ruins. 

The  greater  part  of  the  castle  was  much  more  wasted  and 
ruinous  than  the  portion  which  the  citizens  of  Bale  seemed  to 
have  destined  for  the  accommodation  of  the  embassy.  Some 
parts  were  roofless,  and  the  whole  desolate.  The  glare  of  light, 
the  gleam  of  arms,  the  sound  of  the  human  voice,  and  echoes 
of  mortal  tread  startled  from  their  dark  recesses  bats,  owls, 
and  other  birds  of  ill  omen,  the  usual  inhabitants  of  such  time- 
worn  edifices;  whose  flight  through  the  desolate  chambers 
repeatedly  occasioned  alarm  amongst  those  who  heard  the 
noise  without  seeing  the  cause,  and  shouts  of  laughter  when  it 
became  known.  They  discovered  that  the  deep  moat  sur- 
rounded their  place  of  retreat  on  all  sides,  and,  of  course,  that 
they  were  in  safety  a;gainst  any  attack  which  could  be  made 
from  without,  except  it  was  attempted  by  the  main  entrance, 
which  it  was  easy  to  barricade  and  guard  with  sentinels. 
They  also  ascertained  by  strict  search  that,  though  it  was 
possible  an  individual  might  be  concealed  amid  such  a  waste  of 
ruins,  yet  it  was  altogether  impossible  that  any  number  which 
might  be  formidable  to  so  large  a  party  as  their  own  could 
have  remained  there  without  a  certainty  of  discovery.  These 
particulars  were  reported  to  the  banneret,  who  directed  Donner- 
hugel  to  take  charge  of  a  body  of  six  of  the  young  men,  such 
as  he  should  himself  choose,  to  patrol  on  the  outside  of  the 
building  till  the  first  cock-crowing,  and  at  that  hour  to  return 
to  the  castle,  when  the  same  number  were  to  take  the  duty  till 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  91 

morning  dawned,  and  then  be  relieved  in  their  turn.  Rudolph 
declared  his  own  intention  to  remain  on  guard  the  whole 
night;  and  as  he  was  equally  remarkable  for  vigilance  as 
for  strength  and  courage,  the  external  watch  was  considered 
as  safely  provided  for,  it  being  settled  that,  in  case  of  any 
sudden  rencounter,  the  deep  and  hoarse  sound  of  the  Swiss 
bugle  should  be  the  signal  for  sending  support  to  the  patrol- 
ling party. 

Within  side  the  castle,  the  precautions  were  taken  with 
equal  vigilance.  A  sentinel,  to  be  relieved  every  two  hours, 
was  appointed  to  take  post  at  the  principal  gate,  and  other  two 
kept  watch  on  the  other  side  of  the  castle,  although  the  moat 
appeared  to  ensure  safety  in  that  quarter. 

These  precautions  being  taken,  the  remainder  of  the  party 
sat  down  to  refresh  themselves,  the  deputies  occupying  the 
upper  part  of  the  hall,  while  those  of  their  escort  modestly 
arranged  themselves  in  the  lower  end  of  the  same  large  apart- 
ment. Quantities  of  hay  and  straw,  which  were  left  piled  in 
the  wide  castle,  were  put  to  the  purpose  for  which  undoubtedly 
they  had  been  destined  by  the  citizens  of  B^le,  and,  with  the 
aid  of  cloaks  and  mantles,  were  judged  excellent  good  bedding 
by  a  hardy  race  who,  in  war  or  the  chase,  were  often  well  satis- 
fied with  a  much  worse  night's  lair. 

The  attention  of  the  Balese  had  even  gone  so  far  as  to 
provide  for  Anne  of  Geierstein  separate  accommodation,  more 
suitable  to  her  use  than  that  assigned  to  the  men  of  the  party. 
An  apartment,  which  had  probably  been  the  buttery  of  the 
castle,  entered  from  the  hall,  and  had  also  a  doorway  leading 
out  into  a  passage  connected  with  the  ruins ;  but  this  last  had 
hastily,  yet  carefully,  been  built  up  with  large  hewn  stones 
taken  from  the  ruins ;  without  mortar,  indeed,  or  any  other 
cement,  but  so  well  secured  by  their  own  weight,  that  an 
attempt  to  displace  them  must  have  alarmed  not  only  any  one 
who  might  be  in  the  apartment  itself  but  also  those  who  were 
in  the  hall  adjacent,  or  indeed  in  any  part  of  the  castle.  In 
the  small  room  thus  carefully  arranged  and  secured  there  were 
two  pallet-beds  and  a  large  fire,  which  blazed  on  the  hearth, 
and  gave  warmth  and  comfort  to  the  apartment.  Even  the 
means  of  devotion  were  not  forgotten,  a  small  crucifix  of  bronze 
being  hung  over  a  table,  on  which  lay  a  breviary. 

Those  who  first  discovered  this  little  place  of  retreat  came 
back  loud  in  praise  of  the  delicacy  of  the  citizens  of  Bale,  who, 
while  preparing  for  the  general  accommodation  of  the  strangers, 


"92  ANNE  OP    GEIERSTEIN 

had  not  failed  to  provide  separately  and  peculiarly  for  that  of 
their  female  companion. 

Arnold  Biederman  felt  the  kindness  of  this  conduct.  *  "We 
should  pity  our  friends  of  B41e,  and  not  nourish  resentment 
against  them,'  he  said.  '  They  have  stretched  their  kindness 
towards  us  as  far  as  their  personal  apprehensions  permitted; 
and  that  is  saying  no  small  matter  for  them,  my  masters,  for 
no  passion  is  so  unutterably  selfish  as  that  of  fear.  Anne,  my 
love,  thou  art  fatigued.  Go  to  the  retreat  provided  for  you, 
and  Lizette  shall  bring  you  from  this  abundant  mass  of  pro- 
visions what  will  be  fittest  for  your  evening  meal.' 

So  saying,  he  led  his  niece  into  the  little  bedroom,  and,  look- 
ing round  with  an  air  of  complacency,  wished  her  good  repose ; 
but  there  was  something  on  the  maiden's  brow  which  seemed 
to  augur  that  her  uncle's  wishes  would  not  be  fulfilled.  From 
the  moment  she  had  left  Switzerland,  her  looks  had  become 
clouded,  her  intercourse  with  those  who  approached  her  had 
grown  more  brief  and  rare,  her  whole  appearance  was  marked 
with  secret  anxiety  or  secret  sorrow.  This  did  not  escape  her 
uncle,  who  naturally  imputed  it  to  the  pain  of  parting  from 
him,  which  was  probably  soon  to  take  place,  and  to  her  regret 
at  leaving  the  tranquil  spot  in  which  so  many  years  of  her 
youth  had  been  spent. 

But  Anne  of  Geierstein  had  no  sooner  entered  the  apart- 
ment than  her  whole  frame  trembled  violently,  and  the  colour 
leaving  her  cheeks  entirely,  she  sunk  down  on  one  of  the 

Eallets,  where,  resting  her  elbows  on  her  knees,  and  pressing 
er  hands  on  her  forehead,  she  rather  resembled  a  person 
borne  down  by  mental  distress,  or  oppressed  by  some  severe 
illness,  than  one  who,  tired  with  a  journey,  was  in  haste  to 
betake  herself  to  needful  rest.  Arnold  was  not  quick- sighted 
as  to  the  many  sources  of  female  passion.  He  saw  that  his 
niece  suffered ;  but  imputing  it  only  to  the  causes  already 
mentioned,  augmented  by  the  hysterical  effects  often  produced 
by  fatigue,  he  gently  blamed  her  for  having  departed  from  her 
character  of  a  Swiss  maiden  ere  she  was  yet  out  of  reach  of  a 
Swiss  breeze  of  wind. 

*Thou  must  not  let  the  dames  of  Germany  or  Flanders 
think  that  our  daughters  have  degenerated  from  their  mothers ; 
else  must  we  fight  the  battles  of  Sempach  and  Laupen  over 
again,  to  convince  the  Emperor,  and  this  haughty  Duke  of 
Burgundy,  that  our  men  are  of  the  same  mettle  with  their 
forefathers.    And  as  for  our  parting,  I  do  not  fear  it.     My 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  93 

brother  is  a  count  of  the  Empire,  indeed,  and  therefore  he  must 
needs  satisfy  himself  that  everything  over  which  he  possesses 
any  title  shall  be  at  his  command,  and  sends  for  thee  to  prove 
his  right  of  doing  so.  But  I  know  him  well.  He  will  no 
sooner  be  satisfied  that  he  may  command  thy  attendance  at 
pleasure  than  he  will  concern  himself  about  thee  no  more. 
Thee  !  Alas  !  poor  thing,  in  what  couldst  thou  aid  his  courtly 
intrigues  and  ambitious  plans  1  No  —  no,  thou  art  not  for  the 
noble  count's  purpose,  and  must  be  content  to  trudge  back  to 
rule  the  dairy  at  Geierstein,  and  be  the  darling  of  thine  old 
peasantlike  uncle.' 

*  Would  to  God  we  were  there  even  now  ! '  said  the  maiden, 
in  a  tone  of  wretchedness  which  she  strove  in  vain  to  conceal 
or  suppress. 

'That  may  hardly  be  till  we  have  executed  the  purpose 
which  brought  us  hither,'  said  the  literal  Landamman.  *  But 
lay  thee  on  thy  pallet,  Anne ;  take  a  morsel  of  food,  and  three 
drops  of  wine,  and  thou  wilt  wake  to-morrow  as  gay  as  on  a 
Swiss  holiday,  when  the  pipe  sounds  the  reveille.' 

Anne  was  now  able  to  plead  a  severe  headache,  and  declin- 
ing all  refireshment,  which  she  declared  herself  incapable  of 
tasting,  she  bade  her  uncle  good-night.  She  then  desired 
Lizette  to  get  some  food  for  herself,  cautioning  her,  as  she 
returned,  to  make  as  little  noise  as  possible,  and  not  to  break 
her  repose  if  she  should  have  the  good  fortune  to  fall  asleep. 
Arnold  Biederman  then  kissed  his  niece,  and  returned  to  the 
hall,  where  his  colleagues  in  office  were  impatient  to  commence 
an  attack  on  the  provisions  which  were  in  readiness ;  to  which 
the  escort  of  young  men,  diminished  by  the  patrols  and  sen- 
tinels, were  no  less  disposed  than  their  seniors. 

The  signal  of  assault  was  given  by  the  deputy  from  Schwytz, 
the  eldest  of  the  party,  pronouncing  in  patriarchal  form  a 
benediction  over  the  meal.  The  travellers  then  commenced 
their  operations  with  a  vivacity  which  showed  that  the  uncer- 
tainty whether  they  should  get  any  food,  and  the  delays  which 
had  occurred  in  arranging  themselves  in  their  quarters,  had 
infinitely  increased  their  appetites.  Even  the  Landamman, 
whose  moderation  sometimes  approached  to  abstinence,  seemed 
that  night  in  a  more  genial  humour  than  ordinary.  His  friend 
of  Schwytz,  after  his  example,  ate,  drank,  and  spoke  more  than 
usual,  while  the  rest  of  the  deputies  pushed  their  meal  to  the 
verge  of  a  carousal.  The  elder  Philipson  marked  the  scene 
with  an  attentive  and  anxious  eye,  confining  his  applications 


94  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

to  the  wine-cup  to  such  pledges  as  the  politeness  of  the  times 
called  upon  him  to  reply  to.  His  son  had  left  the  hall  just 
as  the  banquet  began,  in  the  manner  which  we  are  now  to 
relate. 

Arthur  had  proposed  to  himself  to  join  the  youths  who 
were  to  perform  the  duty  of  sentinels  within,  or  patrols  on  the 
outside  of  their  place  of  repose,  and  had  indeed  made  some 
arrangement  for  that  purpose  with  Sigismund,  the  third  of  the 
Landamman's  sons.  But  while  about  to  steal  a  parting  glance 
at  Anne  of  Geierstein,  before  offering  his  service  as  he  proposed, 
there  appeared  on  her  brow  such  a  deep  and  solemn  expression 
as  diverted  his  thoughts  from  every  other  subject  excepting 
the  anxious  doubts  as  to  what  could  possibly  have  given  rise 
to  such  a  change.  The  placid  openness  of  brow,  the  eye^ 
which  expressed  conscious  and  fearless  innocence,  the  lips 
which,  seconded  by  a  look  as  frank  as  her  words,  seemed  ever 
ready  to  speak,  in  kindness  and  in  confidence,  that  which  the 
heart  dictated,  were  for  the  moment  entirely  changed  in  char- 
acter and  expression,  and  in  a  degree  and  manner  for  which  no 
ordinary  cause  could  satisfactorily  account.  Fatigue  might 
have  banished  the  rose  from  the  maiden's  beautiful  complexion, 
and  sickness  or  pain  might  have  dimmed  her  eye  and  clouded 
her  brow;  but  the  look  of  deep  dejection  with  which  she 
fixed  her  eyes  at  times  on  the  ground,  and  the  startled  and 
terrified  glance  which  she  cast  around  her  at  other  intervals, 
must  have  had  their  rise  in  some  different  source.  Neither 
could  illness  or  weariness  explain  the  manner  in  which  her  lips 
were  contracted  or  compressed  together,  like  one  who  makes 
up  her  mind  to  act  or  behold  something  that  is  fearful,  or 
account  for  the  tremor  which  seemed  at  times  to  steal  over  her 
insensibly,  though  by  a  strong  effort  she  was  able  at  intervals 
to  throw  it  off.  For  this  change  of  expression  there  must  be  in 
the  heart  some  deeply  melancholy  and  afflicting  cause.  What 
could  that  cause  be  1 

It  is  dangerous  for  youth  to  behold  beauty  in  the  pomp  of 
all  her  charms,  with  every  look  bent  upon  conquest ;  more 
dangerous  to  see  her  in  the  hour  of  unaffected  and  unappre- 
hensive ease  and  simplicity,  yielding  herself  to  the  graceful 
whim  of  the  moment,  and  as  willing  to  be  pleased  as  desirous 
of  pleasing.  There  are  minds  which  may  be  still  more  affected 
by  gazing  on  beauty  in  sorrow,  and  feeling  that  pity,  that 
desire  of  comforting  the  lovely  mourner,  which  the  poet  has 
described  as  so  nearly  akin  to  love.     But  to  a  spirit  of  that 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  95 

romantic  and  adventurous  cast  which  the  Middle  Ages  frequently- 
produced,  the  sight  of  a  young  and  amiable  person  evidently  in 
a  state  of  terror  and  suffering,  which  had  no  visible  cause,  was 
perhaps  still  more  impressive  than  beauty  in  her  pride,  her 
tenderness,  or  her  sorrow.  Such  sentiments,  it  must  be  re- 
membered, were  not  confined  to  the  highest  ranks  only,  but 
might  then  be  found  in  all  classes  of  society  which  were  raised 
above  the  mere  peasant  or  artisan.  Young  Philipson  gazed  on 
Anne  of  Geierstein  with  such  intense  curiosity,  mingled  with 
pity  and  tenderness,  that  the  bustling  scene  around  him  seemed 
to  vanish  from  his  eyes,  and  leave  no  one  in  the  noisy  hall  save 
himself  and  the  object  of  his  interest. 

What  could  it  be  that  so  evidently  oppressed  and  almost 
quailed  a  spirit  so  well  balanced,  and  a  courage  so  well  tem- 
pered, when,  being  guarded  by  the  swords  of  the  bravest  men 
perhaps  to  be  found  in  Europe,  and  lodged  in  a  place  of  strength, 
even  the  most  timid  of  her  sex  might  have  found  confidence  1 
Surely,  if  an  ^-ttack  were  to  be  made  upon  them,  the  clamour 
of  a  conflict  in  such  circumstances  could  scarce  be  more  terrific 
than  the  roar  of  those  cataracts  which  he  had  seen  her  despise  1 
'At  least,'  he  thought,  '  she  ought  to  be  aware  that  there  is  one 
who  is  bound  by  friendship  and  gratitude  to  fight  to  the  death 
in  her  defence.  Would  to  Heaven,'  he  continued  in  the  same 
reverie, '  it  were  possible  to  convey  to  her,  without  sign  or  speech, 
the  assurance  of  my  unalterable  resolution  to  protect  her  in 
the  worst  of  perils  ! '  As  such  thoughts  streamed  through  his 
mind,  Anne  raised  her  eyes  in  one  of  those  fits  of  deep  feeling 
which  seemed  to  overwhelm  her ;  and  while  she  cast  them  round 
the  hall,  with  a  look  of  apprehension,  as  if  she  expected  to  see 
amid  the  well-known  companions  of  her  journey  some  strange 
and  unwelcome  apparition,  they  encountered  the  fixed  and 
anxious  gaze  of  young  Philipson.  They  were  instantly  bent 
on  the  ground,  while  a  deep  blush  showed  how  much  she  was 
conscious  of  having  attracted  his  attention  by  her  previous 
deportment. 

Arthur,  on  his  part,  with  equal  consciousness,  blushed  as 
deeply  as  the  maiden  herself,  and  drew  himself  back  from  her 
observation.  But  when  Anne  rose  up,  and  was  escorted  by  her 
uncle  to  her  bedchamber,  in  the  manner  we  have  already  men- 
tioned, it  seemed  to  Philipson  as  if  she  had  carried  with  her 
from  the  apartment  the  lights  with  which  it  was  illuminated, 
and  left  it  in  the  twilight  melancholy  of  some  funeral  hall.  His 
deep  musings  were  pursuing  the  subject  which  occupied  them 


96  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

thus  anxiously,  when  the  manly  voice  of  Donnerhugel  spoke 
close  in  his  ear  — 

*What,  comrade,  has  our  journey  to-day  fatigued  you  so 
much  that  you  go  to  sleep  upon  your  feetV 

'Now,  Heaven  forhid,  hauptman,'  said  the  Englishman, 
starting  from  his  reverie,  and  addressing  Rudolph  by  his  name 
(signifying  captain,  or  literally  head-man),  which  the  youth  of 
the  expedition  had  by  unanimous  consent  bestowed  on  him  — 
*  Heaven  forbid  I  should  sleep,  if  there  be  aught  like  action  in 
the  wind.' 

'Where  dost  thou  propose  to  be  at  cock-crow T  said  the 
Swiss. 

'  Where  duty  shall  call  me,  or  your  experience,  noble  haupt- 
man, shall  appoint,'  replied  Arthur.  *  But,  with  your  leave,  I 
purposed  to  take  Sigismund's  guard  on  the  bridge  till  midnight 
or  morning  dawn.  He  still  feels  the  sprain  which  he  received 
in  his  spring  after  yonder  chamois,  and  I  persuaded  him  to 
take  some  uninterrupted  rest,  as  the  best  mode  of  restoring  his 
strength.' 

'  He  will  do  well  to  keep  his  counsel,  then,'  again  whispered 
Donnerhugel :  *  the  old  Landamman  is  not  a  man  to  make  allow- 
ances for  mishaps,  when  they  interfere  with  duty.  Those  who 
are  under  his  orders  should  have  as  few  brains  as  a  bull,  as 
strong  limbs  as  a  bear,  and  be  as  impassible  as  lead  or  iron  to 
all  the  casualties  of  life  and  all  the  weaknesses  of  humanity.' 

Arthur  replied  in  the  same  tone — 'I  have  been  the  Lan- 
damman's  guest  for  some  time,  and  have  seen  no  specimens  of 
any  such  rigid  discipline.' 

'You  are  a  stranger,'  said  the  Swiss,  'and  the  old  man  has 
too  much  hospitality  to  lay  you  under  the  least  restraint.  You 
are  a  volunteer,  too,  in  whatever  share  you  choose  to  take  in 
our  sports  or  our  military  duty ;  and  therefore,  when  I  ask  you 
to  walk  abroad  with  me  at  the  first  cock-crowing,  it  is  only  in 
the  event  that  such  exercise  shall  entirely  consist  with  your 
own  pleasure.' 

'I  consider  myself  as  under  your  command  for  the  time,' 
said  Philipson;  'but,  not  to  bandy  courtesy,  at  cock-crow  I 
shall  be  relieved  from  my  watch  on  the  drawbridge,  and  will 
be  by  that  time  glad  to  exchange  the  post  for  a  more  extended 
walk' 

'Do  you  not  choose  more  of  this  fatiguing,  and  prob- 
ably unnecessary,  duty  than  may  befit  your  strength?'  said 
Rudolph. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  97 

*  I  take  no  more  than  you  do,'  said  Arthur,  *  as  you  propose 
not  to  take  rest  till  morning.' 

*  True,'  answered  Donnerhugel,  *but  I  am  a  Swiss.' 

*  And  I,'  answered  Philipson,  quickly,  '  am  an  Englishman.' 

*  I  did  not  mean  what  I  said  in  the  sense  you  take  it,'  said 
Rudolph,  laughing  :  *  I  only  meant,  that  I  am  more  interested 
in  this  matter  than  you  can  be,  who  are  a  stranger  to  the  cause 
in  which  we  are  personally  engaged.' 

*I  am  a  stranger,  no  doubt,'  replied  Arthur;  *but  a 
stranger  who  has  enjoyed  your  hospitality,  and  who,  therefore, 
claims  a  right,  while  with  you,  to  a  share  in  your  labours  and 
dangers.' 

*  Be  it  so,'  said  Rudolph  Donnerhugel.  *  I  shall  have  finished 
my  first  rounds  at  the  hour  when  the  sentinels  at  the  castle 
are  relieved,  and  shall  be  ready  to  recommence  them  in  your 
good  company.' 

'Content,'  said  the  Englishman.  *And  now  I  will  to  my 
post,  for  I  suspect  Sigismund  is  blaming  me  already,  as  ob- 
livious of  my  promise.' 

They  hastened  together  to  the  gate,  where  Sigismund  will- 
ingly yielded  up  his  weapon  and  his  guard  to  young  Philipson, 
confirming  the  idea  sometimes  entertained  of  him,  that  he  was 
the  most  indolent  and  least  spirited  of  the  family  of  Geierstein. 

Rudolph  could  not  suppress  his  displeasure.  *  What  would 
the  Landamman  say,'  he  demanded,  '  if  he  saw  thee  thus  quietly 
yield  up  post  and  partizan  to  a  stranger  1 ' 

*  He  would  say  I  did  well,'  answered  the  young  man,  nothing 
daunted ;  '  for  he  is  for  ever  reminding  us  to  let  the  stranger 
have  his  own  way  in  everything ;  and  English  Arthur  stands 
on  this  bridge  by  his  own  wish,  and  no  asking  of  mine.  There- 
fore, kind  Arthur,  since  thou  wilt  barter  warm  straw  and  a 
sound  sleep  for  frosty  air  and  a  clear  moonlight,  I  make  thee 
welcome  with  all  my  heart.  Hear  your  duty.  You  are  to  stop 
all  who  enter,  or  attempt  to  enter,  or  till  they  give  the  pass- 
word. If  they  are  strangers,  you  must  give  alarm.  But  you 
will  sufier  such  of  our  iriends  as  are  known  to  you  to  pass  out- 
wards without  challenge  or  alarm,  because  the  deputation  may 
find  occasion  to  send  messengers  abroad.' 

'  A  murrain  on  thee,  thou  lazy  losel ! '  said  Rudolph.  *  Thou 
art  the  only  sluggard  of  thy  kin.' 

'Then  am  I  the  only  wise  man  of  them  all,'  said  the  youth. 
*  Harkye,  brave  hauptman,  ye  have  supped  this  evening,  have 
ye  not?' 

VOL.  XXIII  —  7 


98  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  It  Is  a  point  of  wisdom,  ye  owl,'  answered  the  Bemese,  *not 
to  go  into  the  forest  fasting/ 

'  If  it  is  wisdom  to  eat  when  we  are  hungry,'  answered 
Sigismund,  '  there  can  be  no  folly  in  sleeping  when  we  are 
weary.'  So  saying,  and  after  a  desperate  yawn  or  two,  the 
reheved  sentinel  halted  ofif,  giving  full  effect  to  the  sprain  of 
which  he  complained. 

'  Yet  there  is  strength  in  those  loitering  limbs,  and  valour 
in  that  indolent  and  sluggish  spirit,'  said  Rudolph  to  the  Eng- 
lishman. *  But  it  is  time  that  I,  who  censure  others,  should 
betake  me  to  my  own  task.  Hither,  comrades  of  the  watch  — 
hither.' 

The  Bemese  accompanied  these  words  with  a  whistle,  which 
brought  from  within  six  young  men,  whom  he  had  previously 
chosen  for  the  duty,  and  who,  after  a  hurried  supper,  now 
waited  his  summons.  One  or  two  of  them  had  large  blood-  j 
hounds  or  lyme-dogs,  which,  though  usually  employed  in  the 
pursuit  of  animals  of  chase,  were  also  excellent  for  discovering 
ambuscades,  in  which  duty  their  services  were  now  to  be  em- 
ployed. One  of  these  animals  was  held  in  a  leash  by  the 
person  who,  forming  the  advance  of  the  party,  went  about 
twenty  yards  in  front  of  them ;  a  second  was  the  property  of 
Donnerhugel  himself,  who  had  the  creature  singularly  under 
command.  Three  of  his  companions  attended  him  closely,  and 
the  two  others  followed,  one  of  whom  bore  a  horn  of  the 
Bernese  wild  bull,  by  way  of  bugle.  This  little  party  crossed 
the  moat  by  the  temporary  bridge,  and  moved  on  to  the  verge 
of  the  forest,  which  lay  adjacent  to  the  castle,  and  the  skirts  of 
which  were  most  likely  to  conceal  any  ambuscade  that  could  be 
apprehended.  The  moon  was  now  up,  and  near  the  fuU,  so 
that  Arthur,  from  the  elevation  on  which  the  castle  stood, 
could  trace  their  slow,  cautious  march,  amid  the  broad  silver 
light,  until  they  were  lost  in  the  depths  of  the  forest. 

When  this  object  had  ceased  to  occupy  his  eyes,  the  thoughts 
of  his  lonely  watch  again  returned  to  Anne  of  Geierstein,  and 
to  the  singular  expression  of  distress  and  apprehension  which 
had  that  evening  clouded  her  beautiful  features.  Then  the 
blush  which  had  chased,  for  the  moment,  paleness  and  terror 
from  her  countenance,  at  the  instant  his  eyes  encountered  hers 
—  was  it  anger  —  was  it  modesty  —  was  it  some  softer  feeling, 
more  gentle  than  the  one,  more  tender  than  the  other  1  Young 
Philipson,  who,  like  Chaucer's  Squire,  was  'as  modest  as  a 
maid,'  almost  trembled  to  give  to  that  look  the  favourable  inter- 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  99 

pretation  which  a  more  self-satisfied  gallant  would  have  applied 
to  it  without  scruple.  No  hue  of  rising  or  setting  day  was 
ever  so  lovely  in  the  eyes  of  the  young  man  as  that  blush  was 
in  his  recollection;  nor  did  ever  enthusiastic  visionary  or 
poetical  dreamer  find  out  so  many  fanciful  forms  in  the  clouds 
as  Arthur  divined  various  interpretations  from  the  indications 
of  interest  which  had  passed  over  the  beautiful  countenance  of 
the  Swiss  maiden. 

In  the  meantime,  the  thought  suddenly  burst  on  his  reverie, 
that  it  could  little  concern  him  what  was  the  cause  of  the  per- 
turbation she  had  exhibited.  They  had  met  at  no  distant 
period  for  the  first  time ;  they  must  soon  part  for  ever.  She 
could  be  nothing  more  to  him  than  the  remembrance  of  a 
beautiful  vision,  and  he  could  have  no  other  part  in  her  memory 
save  as  a  stranger  from  a  foreign  land,  who  had  been  a  so- 
journer for  a  season  in  her  uncle's  house,  but  whom  she  could 
never  expect  to  see  again.  When  this  idea  intruded  on  the 
train  of  romantic  visions  which  agitated  him,  it  was  like  the 
sharp  stroke  of  the  harpoon,  which  awakens  the  whale  fi-om 
slumbering  torpidity  into  violent  action.  The  gateway  in 
which  the  young  soldier  kept  his  watch  seemed  suddenly 
too  narrow  for  him.  He  rushed  across  the  temporary  bridge, 
and  hastily  traversed  a  short  space  of  ground  in  front  of  the 
tete-du-pont^  or  defensive  work,  on  which  its  outer  extremity 
rested. 

Here  for  a  time  he  paced  the  narrow  extent  to  which  he  was 
confined  by  his  duty  as  a  sentinel,  with  long  and  rapid  strides, 
as  if  he  had  been  engaged  by  vow  to  take  the  greatest  possible 
quantity  of  exercise  upon  that  limited  space  of  ground.  His 
exertion,  however,  produced  the  effect  of  in  some  degree  com- 
posing his  mind,  recalling  him  to  himself,  and  reminding  him 
of  the  numerous  reasons  which  prohibited  his  fixing  his  atten- 
tion, much  more  his  affections,  upon  this  young  person,  however 
fascinating  she  was. 

'I  have  surely,'  he  thought,  as  he  slackened  his  pace  and 
shouldered  his  heavy  partizan,  *  sense  enough  left  to  recollect 
my  condition  and  my  duties  —  to  think  of  my  father,  to  whom 
I  am  all  in  all,  and  to  think  also  on  the  dishonour  which  must 
accrue  to  me,  were  I  capable  of  winning  the  affections  of  a 
frank-hearted  and  confiding  girl,  to  whom  I  could  never  do 
justice  by  dedicating  my  life  to  return  them.  No,'  he  said  to 
nimself,  '  she  will  soon  forget  me,  and  I  will  study  to  remember 
her  no  otherwise  than  I  would  a  pleasing  dream,  which  hath  for 


100  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

a  moment  crossed  a  night  of  perils  and  dangers,  such  as  my 
life  seems  doomed  to  be/ 

As  he  spoke,  he  stopped  short  in  his  walk,  and  as  he  rested 
on  his  weapon,  a  tear  rose  unbidden  to  his  eye  and  stole  down 
his  cheek  without  being  wiped  away.  But  he  combated  this 
gentler  mood  of  passion  as  he  had  formerly  battled  with  that 
which  was  of  a  wilder  and  more  desperate  character.  Shaking 
off  the  dejection  and  sinking  of  spirit  which  he  felt  creeping 
upon  him,  he  resumed,  at  the  same  time,  the  air  and  attitude 
of  an  attentive  sentinel,  and  recalled  his  mind  to  the  duties  of 
his  watch,  which,  in  the  tumult  of  his  feelings,  he  had  almost 
forgotten.  But  what  was  his  astonishment  when,  as  he  looked 
out  on  the  clear  landscape,  there  passed  from  the  bridge  towards 
the  forest,  crossing  him  in  the  broad  moonlight,  the  living  and 
moving  likeness  of  Anne  of  Geierstein ! 


CHAPTER  X\ 

We  know  not  when  we  sleep  nor  when  we  wake. 

Visions  distinct  and  perfect  cross  our  eye, 

Which  to  the  slumberer  seem  realities  ; 

And  while  they  waked,  some  men  have  seen  such  sights 

As  set  at  nought  the  evidence  of  sense, 

And  left  them  wel  persuaded  they  were  dreaming. 

Anonymous, 

THE  apparition  of  Anne  of  Geierstein  crossed  her  lover 
—  her  admirer,  at  least,  we  must  call  him  —  within 
shorter  time  than  we  can  tell  the  story.  But  it  was 
distinct,  perfect,  and  undoubted.  In  the  very  instant  when  the 
young  Englishman,  shaking  off  his  fond  despondency,  raised  his 
head  to  look  out  upon  the  scene  of  his  watch,  she  came  from 
the  nearer  end  of  the  bridge,  crossing  the  path  of  the  sentinel, 
upon  whom  she  did  not  even  cast  a  look,  and  passed  with  a 
rapid  yet  steady  pace  towards  the  verge  of  the  woodland. 

It  would  have  been  natural,  though  Arthur  had  been 
directed  not  to  challenge  persons  who  left  the  castle,  but  only 
such  as  might  approach  it,  that  he  should  nevertheless,  had  it 
only  been  in  mere  civility,  have  held  some  communication, 
however  slight,  with  the  maiden  as  she  crossed  his  post.  But 
the  suddenness  of  her  appearance  took  from  him  for  the  instant 
both  speech  and  motion.  It  seemed  as  if  his  own  imagination 
had  raised  up  a  phantom,  presenting  to  his  outward  senses  the 
form  and  features  which  engrossed  his  mind ;  and  he  was  silent, 
partly  at  least  from  the  idea  that  what  he  gazed  upon  was 
immaterial  and  not  of  this  world. 

It  would  have  been  no  less  natural  that  Anne  of  Geierstein 
should  have  in  some  manner  acknowledged  the  person  who  had 
spent  a  considerable  time  under  the  same  roof  with  her,  had 
been  often  her  partner  in  the  dance,  and  her  companion  in  the 
field ;  but  she  did  not  evince  the  slightest  token  of  recognition, 
nor  even  look  towards  him  as  she  passed ;  her  eye  was  on  the 


102  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

wood,  to  which  she  advanced  swiftly  and  steadily,  and  she  was 
hidden  by  its  boughs  ere  Arthur  had  recollected  himself  suffi- 
ciently to  determine  what  to  do. 

His  first  feeling  was  anger  at  himself  for  suffering  her  to 
pass  unquestioned,  when  it  might  well  chance  that,  upon  any 
errand  which  called  her  forth  at  so  extraordinary  a  time  and 
place,  he  might  have  been  enabled  to  afford  her  assistance,  or 
at  least  advice.  This  sentiment  was  for  a  short  time  so  pre- 
dominant, that  he  ran  towards  the  place  where  he  had  seen  the 
skirt  of  her  dress  disappear,  and,  whispering  her  name  as  loud 
as  the  fear  of  alarming  the  castle  permitted,  conjured  her  to 
return,  and  hear  him  but  for  a  few  brief  moments.  No  answer, 
however,  was  returned;  and  when  the  branches  of  the  trees 
began  to  darken  over  his  head  and  to  intercept  the  moonlight, 
he  recollected  that  he  was  leaving  his  post,  and  exposing  his 
fellow-travellers,  who  were  trusting  in  his  vigilance,  to  the 
danger  of  surprise. 

He  hastened,  therefore,  back  to  the  castle  gate,  with  matter 
for  deeper  and  more  inextricable  doubt  and  anxiety  than  had 
occupied  him  during  the  commencement  of  his  watch.  He 
asked  himself  in  vain,  with  what  purpose  that  modest  young 
maiden,  whose  manners  were  frank,  but  whose  conduct  had 
always  seemed  so  delicate  and  reserved,  could  sally  forth  at 
midnight  like  a  damsel-errant  in  romance,  when  she  was  in  a 
strange  country  and  suspicious  neighbourhood ;  yet  he  rejected, 
as  he  would  have  shrunk  from  blasphemy,  any  interpretation 
which  could  have  thrown  censure  upon  Anne  of  Geierstein. 
No,  nothing  was  she  capable  of  doing  for  which  a  friend  could 
have  to  blush.  But  connecting  her  previous  agitation  with  the 
extraordinary  fact  of  her  leaving  the  castle,  alone  and  defence- 
less, at  such  an  hour,  Arthur  necessarily  concluded  it  must 
argue  some  cogent  reason,  and,  as  was  most  likely,  of  an  un- 
pleasant nature.  *I  will  watch  her  return,'  he  internally 
uttered,  *  and,  if  she  will  give  me  an  opportunity,  I  will  convey 
to  her  the  assurance  that  there  is  one  faithful  bosom  in  her 
neighbourhood,  which  is  bound  in  honour  and  gratitude  to 
pour  out  every  drop  of  its  blood,  if  by  doing  so  it  can  protect 
her  from  the  slightest  inconvenience.  This  is  no  silly  flight  of 
romance,  for  which  common  sense  has  a  right  to  reproach  me  : 
it  is  only  what  I  ought  to  do,  what  I  must  do,  or  forego  every 
claim  to  be  termed  a  man  of  honesty  or  honour.' 

Yet  scarce  did  the  young  man  think  himself  anchored  on 
a  resolution  which  seemed  unobjectionable  than  his  thoughts 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  103 

were  again  adrift.  He  reflected  that  Anne  might  have  a  desire 
to  visit  the  neighbouring  town  of  B41e,  to  which  she  had  been 
invited  the  day  before,  and  where  her  uncle  had  friends.  It 
was  indeed  an  uncommon  hour  to  select  for  such  a  purpose ; 
but  Arthur  was  aware  that  the  Swiss  maidens  feared  neither 
solitary  walks  nor  late  hours,  and  that  Anne  would  have  walked 
among  her  own  hills  by  moonlight  much  farther  than  the 
distance  betwixt  their  place  of  encampment  and  BMe,  to  see  a 
sick  friend,  or  for  any  similar  purpose.  To  press  himself  on 
her  confidence,  then,  might  be  impertinence,  not  kindness ;  and 
as  she  had  passed  him  without  taking  the  slightest  notice  of 
his  presence,  it  was  evident  she  did  not  mean  voluntarily  to 
make  him  her  confidant ;  and  probably  she  was  involved  in  no 
difficulties  where  his  aid  could  be  useful.  In  that  case,  the 
duty  of  a  gentleman  was  to  permit  her  to  return  as  she  had 
gone  forth,  unnoticed  and  unquestioned,  leaving  it  with 
herself  to  hold  communication  with  him  or  not  as  she  should 
choose. 

Another  idea,  belonging  to  the  age,  also  passed  through  his 
mind,  though  it  made  no  strong  impression  upon  it.  This 
form,  so  perfectly  resembling  Anne  of  Geierstein,  might  be  a 
deception  of  the  sight,  or  it  might  be  one  of  those  fantastic 
apparitions  concerning  which  there  were  so  many  tales  told  in 
all  countries,  and  of  which  Switzerland  and  Germany  had,  as 
Arthur  well  knew,  their  full  share.  The  internal  and  undefin- 
able  feelings  which  restrained  him  fi:om  accosting  the  maiden, 
as  might  have  been  natural  for  him  to  have  done,  are  easily 
explained,  on  the  supposition  that  his  mortal  frame  shrunk 
from  an  encounter  with  a  being  of  a  different  nature.  There 
had  also  been  some  expressions  of  the  magistrate  of  B^le  which 
might  apply  to  the  castle's  being  liable  to  be  haunted  by 
beings  from  another  world.  But  though  the  general  belief  in 
such  ghostly  apparitions  prevented  the  Englishman  from  being 

Positively  incredulous  on  the  subject,  yet  the  instructions  of 
is  father,  a  man  of  great  intrepidity  and  distinguished  good 
sense,  had  taught  him  to  be  extremely  unwiUing  to  refer 
anjrthing  to  supernatural  interferences  which  was  capable  of 
explanation  by  ordinary  rules ;  and  he  therefore  shook  off, 
without  difficulty,  any  feelings  of  superstitious  fear  which  for 
an  instant  connected  itself  with  his  nocturnal  adventure.  He 
resolved  finally  to  suppress  all  disquieting  conjecture  on  the 
subject,  and  to  await  firmly,  if  not  patiently,  the  return  of  the 
feir  vision,  which,  if  it  should  not  fuUy  explain  the  mystery, 


104  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

seemed  at  least  to  afford  the  only  chance  of  throwing  light 
upon  it. 

^  Fixed,  therefore,  in  purpose,  he  traversed  the  walk  which 
his  duty  permitted,  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  part  of  the 
forest  where  he  had  seen  the  beloved  form  disappear,  and 
forgetful  for  the  moment  that  his  watch  had  any  other  purpose 
than  to  observe  her  return.  But  from  this  abstraction  of  mind 
he  was  roused  by  a  distant  sound  in  the  forest,  which  seemed 
the  clash  of  armour.  Recalled  at  once  to  a  sense  of  his  duty, 
and  its  importance  to  his  father  and  his  fellow-travellers, 
Arthur  planted  himself  on  the  temporary  bridge,  where  a  stand 
could  best  be  made,  and  turned  both  eyes  and  ears  to  watch 
for  approaching  danger.  The  sound  erf  arms  and  footsteps 
came  nearer :  spears  and  helmets  advanced  from  the  green- 
wood glade,  and  twinkled  in  the  moonlight.  But  the  stately 
form  of  Rudolph  Donnerhugel,  marching  in  front,  was  easily 
recognised,  and  announced  to  our  sentinel  the  return  of  the 
patrol.  Upon  their  approach  to  the  bridge,  the  challenge  and 
interchange  of  sign  and  countersign,  which  is  usual  on  such 
occasions,  took  place  in  due  form ;  and  as  Rudolph's  party  filed 
off  one  after  another  into  the  castle,  he  commanded  them  to 
wake  their  companions,  with  whom  he  intended  to  renew  the 
patrol,  and  at  the  same  time  to  send  a  relief  to  Arthur 
Philipson,  whose  watch  on  the  bridge  was  now  ended.  This 
last  fact  was  confirmed  by  the  deep  and  distant  toll  of  the 
minster  clock  from  the  town  of  B^le,  which,  prolonging  its 
sullen  sound  over  field  and  forest,  announced  that  midnight 
was  past. 

*  Aid  now,  comrade,'  continued  Rudolph  to  the  Englishman, 
'  have  the  cold  air  and  long  watch  determined  thee  to  retire  to 
food  and  rest,  or  dost  thou  still  hold  the  intention  of  partaking 
our  rounds  1 ' 

In  very  truth  it  would  have  been  Arthur's  choice  to  have 
remained  in  the  place  where  he  was,  for  the  purpose  of 
watching  Anne  of  Geierstein's  return  fi*om  her  mysterious 
excursion.  He  could  not  easily  have  found  an  excuse  for  this, 
however,  and  he  was  unwilling  to  give  the  haughty  Donner- 
hugel the  least  suspicion  that  he  was  inferior  in  hardihood,  or 
in  the  power  of  enduring  fatigue,  to  any  of  the  tall  mountaineers 
whose  companion  he  chanced  to  be  for  the  present.  He  did 
not,  therefore,  indulge  even  a  moment's  hesitation ;  but  while 
he  restored  the  borrowed  partizan  to  the  sluggish  Sigismund, 
who  came  from  the  castle  yawning  and  stretching  himself  like 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  105 

one  whose  slumbers  had  been  broken  by  no  welcome  summons 
when  they  were  deepest  and  sweetest,  he  acquainted  Rudolph 
that  he  retained  his  purpose  of  partaking  in  his  reconnoitring 
duty.  They  were  speedily  joined  by  the  rest  of  the  patrolling 
party,  amongst  whom  was  Rudiger,  the  eldest  son  of  the 
Landamman  of  Unterwalden ;  and  when,  led  by  the  Bernese 
champion,  they  had  reached  the  skirts  of  the  forest,  Rudolph 
commanded  three  of  them  to  attend  Rudiger  Biederman. 

'  Thou  wilt  make  thy  round  to  the  left  side,'  said  the  Ber- 
nese, '  I  will  draw  off  to  the  right ;  see  thou  keepest  a  good 
lookout,  and  we  will  meet  merrily  at  the  place  appointed. 
Take  one  of  the  hounds  with  you.  I  will  keep  Wolf-fiinger, 
who  will  open  on  a  Burgundian  as  readily  as  on  a  bear.' 

Rudiger  moved  off  with  his  party  to  the  left,  according  to  the 
directions  received ;  and  Rudolph,  having  sent  forward  one  of 
his  number  in  front  and  stationed  another  in  the  rear,  com- 
manded the  third  to  follow  himself  and  Arthur  Philipson,  who 
thus  constituted  the  main  body  of  the  patrol.  Having  inti- 
mated to  their  immediate  attendant  to  keep  at  such  distance 
as  to  allow  them  freedom  of  conversation,  Rudolph  addressed 
the  Englishman  with  the  familiarity  which  their  recent  friend- 
ship had  created.  'And  now.  King  Arthur,  what  thinks  the 
Majesty  of  England  of  our  Helvetian  youth?  Could  they 
win  guerdon  in  tilt  or  tourney,  thinkest  thou,  noble  prince? 
Or  would  they  rank  but  amongst  the  coward  knights  of 
Comouailles  1 '  ^ 

*For  tilt  and  tourney  I  cannot  answer,'  said  Arthur,  sum- 
moning up  his  spirits  to  reply,  '  because  I  never  beheld  one  of 
you  mounted  on  a  steed,  or  having  spear  in  rest.  But  if  strong 
limbs  and  stout  hearts  are  to  be  considered,  I  would  match  you 
Swiss  gallants  with  those  of  any  country  in  the  universe  where 
manhood  is  to  be  looked  for,  whether  it  be  in  heart  or  hand.' 

*Thou  speakest  us  fair;  and,  young  Englishman,'  said 
Rudolph,  '  know  that  we  think  as  highly  of  thee,  of  which  I 
will  presently  afford  thee  a  proof.  Thou  talkedst  but  now  of 
horses.  I  know  but  little  of  them ;  yet  I  judge  thou  wouldst 
not  buy  a  steed  which  thou  hadst  only  seen  covered  with 
trappings,  or  encumbered  with  saddle  and  bridle,  but  wouldst 
desire  to  look  at  him  when  stripped,  and  in  his  natural  state 
of  freedom  ? ' 

*  Ay,  marry,  would  I,'  said  Arthur.     *  Thou  hast  spoken  on 

*  The  chivalry  of  Cornwall  are  generally  undervalued  in  the  Norman- 
French  romances.    The  cause  is  difficult  to  discover. 


106  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

that  as  if  thou  hadst  been  bom  in  a  district  called  Yorkshire, 
which  men  call  the  merriest  part  of  Merry  England.' 

'Then  I  tell  thee,'  said  Rudolph  Donnerhugel,  'that  thou 
hast  seen  our  Swiss  youth  but  half,  since  thou  hast  observed 
them  as  yet  only  in  their  submissive  attendance  upon  the  elders 
of  their  cantons,  or,  at  most,  in  their  mountain  sports,  which, 
though  they  may  show  men's  outward  strength  and  activity, 
can  throw  no  light  on  the  spirit  and  disposition  by  which  that 
strength  and  activity  are  to  be  guided  and  directed  in  matters 
of  high  enterprise.' 

The  Swiss  probably  designed  that  these  remarks  should 
excite  the  curiosity  of  the  stranger.  But  the  Englishman  had 
the  image,  look,  and  form  of  Anne  of  Geierstein,  as  she  had 
passed  him  in  the  silent  hours  of  his  watch,  too  constantly 
before  him  to  enter  willingly  upon  a  subject  of  conversation 
totally  foreign  to  what  agitated  his  mind.  He,  therefore,  only 
compelled  himself  to  reply  in  civility,  that  he  had  no  doubt  his 
esteem  for  the  Swiss,  both  aged  and  young,  would  increase  in 
proportion  with  his  more  intimate  knowledge  of  the  nation. 

He  was  then  silent ;  and  Donnerhugel,  disappointed,  perhaps, 
at  having  failed  to  excite  his  curiosity,  walked  also  in  silence 
by  his  side.  Arthur,  meanwhile,  was  considering  with  himself 
whether  he  should  mention  to  his  companion  the  circumstance 
which  occupied  his  own  mind,  in  the  hope  that  the  kinsman  of 
Anne  of  Geierstein,  an  ancient  friend  of  her  house,  might  be 
able  to  throw  some  light  on  the  subject. 

But  he  felt  within  his  mind  an  insurmountable  objection  to 
converse  with  the  Swiss  on  a  subject  in  which  Anne  was  con- 
cerned. That  Rudolph  made  pretensions  to  her  favour  could 
hardly  be  doubted ;  and  though  Arthur,  had  the  question  been 
put  to  him,  must  in  common  consistency  have  resigned  all 
competition  on  the  subject,  still  he  could  not  bear  to  think  on 
the  possibility  of  his  rival's  success,  and  would  not  willingly 
have  endured  to  hear  him  pronounce  her  name. 

Perhaps  it  was  owing  to  this  secret  irritability  that  Arthur, 
though  he  made  every  eifort  to  conceal  and  to  overcome  the 
sensation,  still  felt  a  secret  dislike  to  Rudolph  Donnerhugel, 
whose  frank,  but  somewhat  coarse,  familiarity  was  mingled  with 
a  certain  air  of  protection  and  patronage,  which  the  Englishman 
thought  was  by  no  means  called  for.  He  met  the  openness  of 
the  Bernese,  indeed,  with  equal  frankness,  but  he  was  ever  and 
anon  tempted  to  reject  or  repel  the  tone  of  superiority  by 
which  it  was  accompanied.    The  circumstances  of  their  duel 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  107 

had  given  the  Swiss  no  ground  for  such  triumph;  nor  did 
Arthur  feel  himself  included  in  that  roll  of  the  Swiss  youth 
over  whom  Rudolph  exercised  domination,  by  general  consent. 
So  little  did  Philipson  relish  this  affectation  of  superiority,  that 
the  poor  jest  that  termed  him  King  Arthur,  although  quite 
indifferent  to  him  when  applied  by  any  of  the  Biedermans,  was 
rather  offensive  when  Rudolph  took  the  same  liberty ;  so  that 
he  often  found  himself  in  the  awkward  condition  of  one  who 
is  internally  irritated,  without  having  any  outward  manner  of 
testifying  it  with  propriety.  Undoubtedly,  the  root  of  all  this 
tacit  dislike  to  the  young  Bernese  was  a  feeling  of  rivalry  ;  but 
it  was  a  feeling  which  Arthur  dared  not  avow  even  to  himself 
It  was  sufficiently  powerful,  however,  to  suppress  the  slight  in- 
clination he  had  felt  to  speak  with  Rudolph  on  the  passage  of 
the  night  which  had  most  interested  him  ;  and  as  the  topic  of 
conversation  introduced  by  his  companion  had  been  suffered  to 
drop,  they  walked  on  side  by  side  in  silence,  '  with  the  beard 
on  the  shoulder,'  as  the  Spaniard  says  —  looking  round,  that  is, 
on  all  hands  —  and  thus  performing  the  duty  of  a  vigilant  watch. 

At  length,  after  they  had  walked  nearly  a  mile  through 
forest  and  field,  making  a  circuit  around  the  ruins  of  Grafts- 
lust,  of  such  an  extent  as  to  leave  no  room  for  an  ambush 
betwixt  them  and  the  place,  the  old  hound,  led  by  the  vidette 
who  was  foremost,  stopped  and  uttered  a  low  growl. 

'  How  now,  Wolf-fanger  ! '  said  Rudolph,  advancing.  '  "What, 
old  fellow !  dost  thou  not  know  friends  from  foes  ?  Come, 
what  sayest  thou,  on  better  thoughts  1  Thou  must  not  lose 
character  in  thy  old  age ;  try  it  again.' 

The  dog  raised  his  head,  snuffed  the  air  all  around,  as  if  he 
understood  what  his  master  had  said,  then  shook  his  head  and 
tail,  as  if  answering  to  his  voice. 

*Why,  there  it  is  now,'  said  Donnerhugel,  patting  the 
animal's  shaggy  back  ;  '  second  thoughts  are  worth  gold  :  thou 
seest  it  is  a  friend  after  all.' 

The  dog  again  shook  his  tail,  and  moved  forward  with  the 
same  unconcern  as  before;  Rudolph  fell  back  into  his  place, 
and  his  companion  said  to  him  — 

*  We  are  about  to  meet  Rudiger  and  our  companions,  I  sup- 
pose, and  the  dog  hears  their  footsteps,  though  we  cannot.' 

*  It  can  scarcely  yet  be  Rudiger,'  said  the  Bernese  :  '  his 
walk  around  the  castle  is  of  a  wider  circumference  than  ours. 
Some  one  approaches,  however,  for  Wolf-fanger  is  again  dis- 
satisfied.    Look  sharply  out  on  aU  sides,' 


108  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

As  Eudolph  gave  his  party  the  word  to  be  on  the  alert,  they 
reached  an  open  glade,  in  which  were  scattered,  at  considerable 
distance  from  each  other,  some  old  pine-trees  of  gigantic  size, 
which  seemed  yet  huger  and  blacker  than  ordinary,  from  their 
broad  sable  tops  and  shattered  branches  being  displayed  against 
the  clear  and  white  moonlight.  *  We  shall  here,  at  least,'  said 
the  Swiss,  *  have  the  advantage  of  seeing  clearly  whatever  ap- 
proaches. But  I  judge,'  said  he,  after  looking  around  for  a 
minute,  '  it  is  but  some  wolf  or  deer  that  has  crossed  our  path, 
and  the  scent  disturbs  the  hound.  Hold  —  stop  —  yes,  it  must 
be  so  —  he  goes  on.' 

The  dog  accordingly  proceeded,  after  having  given  some 
signs  of  doubt,  uncertainty,  and  even  anxiety.  Apparently, 
however,  he  became  reconciled  to  what  had  disturbed  him,  and 
proceeded  once  more  in  the  ordinary  manner. 

'  This  is  singular ! '  said  Arthur  Philipson ;  '  and,  to  my 
thinking,  I  saw  an  object  close  by  yonder  patch  of  thicket, 
where,  as  well  as  I  can  guess,  a  few  thorn  and  hazel  bushes 
surround  the  stems  of  four  or  five  large  trees.' 

*My  eye  has  been  on  that  very  thicket  for  these  five 
minutes  past,  and  I  saw  nothing,'  said  Rudolph. 

'  Nay,  but,'  answered  the  young  Englishman,  '  I  saw  the 
object,  whatever  it  was,  while  you  were  engaged  in  attending 
to  the  dog.  And  by  your  permission,  I  will  forward  and 
examine  the  spot.' 

*  Were  you,  strictly  speaking,  under  my  command,'  said 
Donnerhugel,  '  I  would  command  you  to  keep  your  place.  If 
they  be  foes,  it  is  essential  that  we  should  remain  together. 
But  you  are  a  volunteer  in  our  watch,  and  therefore  may  use 
your  freedom.' 

*  I  thank  you,'  answered  Arthur,  and  sprung  quickly  forward. 
He  felt,  indeed,  at  the  moment,  that  he  was  not  acting 

courteously  as  an  individual,  nor  perhaps  correctly  as  a  soldier ; 
and  that  he  ought  to  have  rendered  obedience,  for  the  time,  to 
the  captain  of  the  party  in  which  he  had  enlisted  himself. 
But,  on  the  other  hand,  the  object  which  he  had  seen,  though 
at  a  distance  and  imperfectly,  seemed  to  bear  a  resemblance  to 
the  retiring  form  of  Anne  of  Geierstein,  as  she  had  vanished 
from  his  eyes,  an  hour  or  two  before,  under  the  cover  of  the 
forest ;  and  his  ungovernable  curiosity  to  ascei-tain  whether  it 
might  not  be  the  maiden  in  person  allowed  him  to  listen  to  no 
other  consideration^ 
Ere  Rudolph  had  spoken  out  his  few  words  of  reply,  Arthur 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  109 

was  half-way  to  the  thicket.  It  was,  as  it  had  seemed  at  a 
distance,  of  small  extent,  and  not  fitted  to  hide  any  person 
who  did  not  actually  couch  down  amongst  the  dwarf  bushes 
and  underwood.  Anything  white,  also,  which  bore  the  human 
size  and  form,  must,  he  thought,  have  been  discovered  among 
the  dark-red  stems  and  swarthy-coloured  bushes  which  were 
before  him.  These  observations  were  mingled  with  other 
thoughts.  If  it  was  Anne  of  Geierstein  whom  he  had  a  second 
time  seen,  she  must  have  left  the  more  open  path,  desirous 
probably  of  avoiding  notice  ;  and  what  right  or  title  had  he  to 
direct  upon  her  the  observation  of  the  patrol?  He  had,  he 
thought,  observed  that  in  general  the  maiden  rather  repelled 
than  encouraged  the  attentions  of  Rudolph  Donnerhugel ;  or, 
where  it  would  have  been  discourteous  to  have  rejected  them 
entirely,  that  she  endured  without  encouraging  them.  What, 
then,  could  be  the  propriety  of  his  intruding  upon  her  private 
walk,  singular,  indeed,  from  time  and  place,  but  which,  on  that 
account,  she  might  be  more  desirous  to  keep  secret  from  the 
observation  of  one  who  was  disagreeable  to  her  ?  Nay,  was  it 
not  possible  that  Rudolph  might  derive  advantage  to  his 
otherwise  unacceptable  suit  by  possessing  the  knowledge  of 
something  which  the  maiden  desired  to  be  concealed? 

As  these  thoughts  pressed  upon  him,  Arthur  made  a  pause, 
with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  thicket,  fi'om  which  he  was  now 
scarce  thirty  yards  distant ;  and  although  scrutinising  it  with 
all  the  keen  accuracy  which  his  uncertainty  and  anxiety 
dictated,  he  was  actuated  by  a  strong  feeling  that  it  would 
be  wisest  to  turn  back  to  his  companions,  and  report  to 
Rudolph  that  his  eyes  had  deceived  him. 

But,  while  he  was  yet  undecided  whether  to  advance  or 
return,  the  object  which  he  had  seen  became  again  visible  on 
the  verge  of  the  thicket,  and  advanced  straight  towards  him, 
bearing,  as  on  the  former  occasion,  the  exact  dress  and  figure 
of  Anne  of  Geierstein  !  This  vision  —  for  the  time,  place,  and 
suddenness  of  the  appearance  made  it  seem  rather  an  illusion 
than  a  reality  —  struck  Arthur  with  surprise,  which  amounted 
to  terror.  The  figure  passed  within  a  spear's-length,  unchal- 
lenged by  him,  and  giving  not  the  slightest  sign  of  recognition  ; 
and,  directing  its  course  to  the  right  hand  of  Rudolph  and  the 
two  or  three  who  were  with  him,  was  again  lost  among  the 
broken  ground  and  bushes. 

Once  more  the  young  man  was  reduced  to  a  state  of  the 
most  inextricable  doubt;  nor  was  he  roused  from  the  stupor 


110  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

into  which  he  was  thrown  till  the  voice  of  the  Bernese  sounded 
in  his  ear —  *  Why,  how  now,  King  Arthur;  art  thou  asleep,  or 
art  thou  wounded  ? ' 

'Neither,'  said  Philipson,  collecting  himself;  'only  much 
surprised.' 

*  Surprised !  and  at  what,  most  royal ' 

*  Forbear  foolery,'  said  Arthur,  somewhat  sternly,  *  and 
answer  as  thou  art  a  man — Did  she  not  meet  thee?  —  didst 
thou  not  see  her?' 

'  See  her !  —  see  whom  ? '  said  Donnerhugel.  '  I  saw  no  one. 
And  I  could  have  sworn  you  had  seen  no  one  either,  for  I  had 
you  in  my  eye  the  whole  time  of  your  absence,  excepting  two 
or  thee  moments.  If  you  saw  aught,  why  gave  you  not  the 
alarm  1 ' 

'  Because  it  was  only  a  woman,'  answered  Arthur,  faintly. 

*  Only  a  woman  ! '  repeated  Rudolph,  in  a  tone  of  contempt. 
*  By  my  honest  word.  King  Arthur,  if  I  had  not  seen  pretty 
flashes  of  valour  fly  from  thee  at  times,  I  should  be  apt  to 
think  that  thou  hadst  only  a  woman's  courage  thyself.  Strange, 
that  a  shadow  by  night,  or  a  precipice  in  the  day,  should  quell 
so  bold  a  spirit  as  thou  hast  often  shown ' 

'And  as  I  will  ever  show,  when  occasion  demands  it,'  inter- 
rupted the  Englishman,  with  recovered  spirit.  '  But  I  swear  to 
you  that,  if  I  be  now  daunted,  it  is  by  no  merely  earthly  fears 
that  my  mind  hath  been  for  a  moment  subdued.' 

'  Let  us  proceed  on  our  walk,'  said  Rudolph  :  '  we  must  not 
neglect  the  safety  of  our  friends.  This  appearance  of  which 
thou  speakest  may  be  but  a  trick  to  interrupt  our  duty.' 

They  moved  on  through  the  moonlight  glades.  A  minute's 
reflection  restored  young  Philipson  to  his  frill  recollection,  and 
with  that  to  the  painful  consciousness  that  he  had  played  a 
ridiculous  and  unworthy  part  in  the  presence  of  the  person 
whom  (of  the  male  sex,  at  least)  he  would  the  very  last  have 
chosen  as  a  witness  of  his  weakness. 

He  ran  hastily  over  the  relations  which  stood  betwixt  him- 
self, Donnerhugel,  the  Landamman,  his  niece,  and  the  rest  of 
that  family ;  and,  contrary  to  the  opinion  which  he  had  enter- 
tained but  a  short  while  before,  settled  in  his  own  mind  that  it 
was  his  duty  to  mention  to  the  immediate  leader  under  whom 
he  had  placed  himself  the  appearance  which  he  had  twice 
observed  in  the  course  of  that  night's  duty.  There  might  be 
family  circumstances  —  the  payment  of  a  vow,  perhaps,  or  some 
such  reason  —  which  might  render  intelligible  to  her  connexions 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  111 

the  behaviour  of  this  young  lady.  Besides,  he  was  for  the 
present  a  soldier  on  duty,  and  these  mysteries  might  be 
fraught  with  evils  to  be  anticipated  or  guarded  against;  in 
either  case,  his  companions  were  entitled  to  be  made  aware  of 
what  he  had  seen.  It  must  be  supposed  that  this  resolution 
was  adopted  when  the  sense  of  duty,  and  of  shame  for  the 
weakness  which  he  had  exhibited,  had  for  the  moment  subdued 
Arthur's  personal  feelings  towards  Anne  of  Geierstein  —  feelings, 
also,  liable  to  be  chilled  by  the  mysterious  uncertainty  which 
the  events  of  that  evening  had  cast,  like  a  thick  mist,  around 
the  object  of  them. 

While  the  Englishman's  reflections  were  taking  this  turn, 
his  captain  or  companion,  after  a  silence  of  several  minutes,  at 
length  addressed  him. 

'  I  believe,'  he  said,  *  my  dear  comrade,  that,  as  being  at 
present  your  officer,  I  have  some  title  to  hear  from  you  the 
report  of  what  you  have  just  now  seen,  since  it  must  be  some- 
thing of  importance  which  could  so  strongly  agitate  a  mind  so 
firm  as  yours.  But  if,  in  your  own  opinion,  it  consists  with  the 
general  safety  to  delay  your  report  of  what  you  have  seen  until 
we  return  to  the  castle,  and  then  to  deliver  it  to  the  private 
ear  of  the  Landamman,  you  have  only  to  intimate  your 
purpose ;  and,  far  from  urging  you  to  place  confidence  in  me 
personally,  though  I  hope  I  am  not  undeserving  of  it,  I  will 
authorise  your  leaving  us,  and  returning  instantly  to  the 
castle.' 

This  proposal  touched  him  to  whom  it  was  made  exactly  in 
the  right  place.  An  absolute  demand  of  his  confidence  might 
perhaps  have  been  declined ;  the  tone  of  moderate  request 
and  conciliation  fell  presently  in  with  the  Englishman's  own 
reflections. 

'I  am  sensible,'  he  said,  'hauptman,  that  I  ought  to  mention 
to  you  that  which  I  have  seen  to-night ;  but  on  the  first  occa- 
sion it  did  not  fall  within  my  duty  to  do  so,  and  now  that  I 
have  a  second  time  witnessed  the  same  appearance,  I  have  felt 
for  these  few  seconds  so  much  surprised  at  what  I  have  seen, 
that  even  yet  I  can  scarce  find  words  to  express  it.' 

'As  I  cannot  guess  what  you  may  have  to  say,'  replied  the 
Bernese,  '  I  must  beseech  you  to  be  explicit.  We  are  but  poor 
readers  of  riddles,  we  thick-headed  Switzers.' 

'Yet  it  is  but  a  riddle  which  I  have  to  place  before  you, 
Rudolph  Donnerhugel,'  answered  the  Englishman,  'and  a  riddle 
which  is  far  beyond  my  own  guessing  at.'    He  then  proceeded, 


112  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

though  not  without  hesitation,  *  While  you  were  performing 
your  first  patrol  amongst  the  ruins,  a  female  crossed  the 
bridge  from  within  the  castle,  walked  by  my  post  without 
saying  a  single  word,  and  vanished  under  the  shadows  of  the 
forest.' 

*  Ha ! '  exclaimed  Donnerhugel,  and  made  no  further  answer. 
Arthur  proceeded.     *  Within  these  five  minutes,  the  same 

female  form  passed  me  a  second  time,  issuing  fi-om  the  little 
thicket  and  clump  of  firs,  and  disappeared,  without  exchanging 
a  word.  Know,  farther,  this  apparition  bore  the  form,  feoe, 
gait,  and  dress  of  your  kinswoman,  Anne  of  Geierstein.' 

'Singular  enough,'  said  Rudolph,  in  a  tone  of  incredulity. 
*I  must  not,  I  suppose,  dispute  your  word,  for  you  would 
receive  doubt  on  my  part  as  a  mortal  injury  —  such  is  your 
Northern  chivalry.  Yet,  let  me  say,  I  have  eyes  as  well  as  you, 
and  I  scarce  think  they  quitted  you  for  a  minute.  We  were 
not  fifty  yards  from  the  place  where  1  found  you  standing  in 
amazement.  How,  therefore,  should  not  we  also  have  seen 
that  which  you  say  and  think  you  saw?' 

*To  that  I  can  give  no  answer,'  said  Arthur.  'Perhaps 
your  eyes  were  not  exactly  turned  upon  me  during  the  short 
space  in  which  I  saw  this  form.  Perhaps  it  might  be  visible  — 
as  they  say  fantastic  appearances  sometimes  are  —  to  only  one 
person  at  a  time.' 

*  You  suppose,  then,  that  the  appearance  was  imaginary  or 
fantastic  1 '  said  the  Bernese. 

'  Can  I  tell  you  ? '  replied  the  Englishman.  '  The  church 
gives  its  warrant  that  there  are  such  things ;  and  surely  it  is 
more  natural  to  believe  this  apparition  to  be  an  illusion  than 
to  suppose  that  Anne  of  Geierstein,  a  gentle  and  well-nurtured 
maiden,  should  be  traversing  the  woods  at  this  wild  hour,  when 
safety  and  propriety  so  strongly  recommend  her  being  within 
doors.' 

'  There  is  much  in  what  you  say,'  said  Rudolph ;  *  and  yet 
there  are  stories  afloat,  though  few  care  to  mention  them, 
which  seem  to  allege  that  Anne  of  Geierstein  is  not  altogether 
such  as  other  maidens ;  and  that  she  has  been  met  with,  in 
.  body  and  spirit,  where  she  could  hardly  have  come  by  her  own 
unassisted  efforts.' 

'  Ha  ! '  said  Arthur ;  '  so  young,  so  beautiful,  and  already  in 
league  with  the  destroyer  of  mankind  !     It  is  impossible.' 

*I  said  not  so,'  replied  the  Bernese ;  'nor  have  I  leisure  at 
present  to  explain  my  meaning  more  fully.    As  we  return  to 


To  the  general  greeting  he  answered, — '  I  thank  you,  my  brave 
comrades.'  " 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  113 

the  castle  of  GraiFslust,  I  may  have  an  opportunity  to  tell  you 
more.  But  I  chiefly  brought  you  on  this  patrol  to  introduce 
you  to  some  friends,  whom  you  will  be  pleased  to  know,  and 
who  desire  your  acquaintance ;  and  it  is  here  I  expect  to  meet 
them.' 

So  saying,  he  turned  round  the  projecting  comer  of  a  rock, 
and  an  unexpected  scene  was  presented  to  the  eyes  of  the 
young  Englishman. 

In  a  sort  of  nook,  or  comer,  screened  by  the  rocky  projec- 
tion, there  burned  a  large  fire  of  wood,  and  around  it  sat, 
reclined,  or  lay,  twelve  or  fifteen  young  men  in  the  Swiss  garb, 
but  decorated  with  ornaments  and  embroidery,  which  reflected 
back  the  light  of  the  fire.  The  same  red  gleam  was  returned 
by  silver  wine-cups,  which  circulated  from  hand  to  hand  with 
the  flasks  which  filled  them.  Arthur  could  also  observe  the 
relics  of  a  banquet,  to  which  due  honour  seemed  to  have  been 
lately  rendered. 

The  revellers  started  joyfully  up  at  the  sight  of  Donner- 
hugel  and  his  companions,  and  saluted  him,  easily  distinguished 
as  he  was  by  his  stature,  by  the  title  of  captain,  warmly  and 
exultingly  uttered,  while,  at  the  same  time,  every  tendency  to 
noisy  acclamation  was  cautiously  suppressed.  The  zeal  indi- 
cated that  Rudolph  came  most  welcome ;  the  caution  that  he 
came  in  secret,  and  was  to  be  received  with  mystery. 

To  the  general  greeting  he  answered  —  'I  thank  you,  my 
brave  comrades.     lias  Rudiger  yet  reached  youT 

*Thou  see'st  he  has  not,'  said  one  of  the  party;  'had  it 
been  so,  we  would  have  detained  him  here  till  your  coming, 
brave  captain.' 

'  He  has  loitered  on  his  patrol,'  said  the  Bernese.  *  We,  too, 
were  delayed,  yet  we  are  here  before  him.  I  bring  with  me, 
comrades,  the  brave  Englishman  whom  I  mentioned  to  you  as 
a  desirable  associate  in  our  daring  purpose.' 

'He  is  welcome  —  most  welcome  to  us,' said  a  young  man, 
whose  richly  embroidered  dress  of  azure  blue  gave  him  an  air 
of  authority  — '  most  welcome  is  he,  if  he  brings  with  him  a 
heart  and  a  hand  to  serve  our  noble  task.' 

'For  both  I  will  be  responsible,'  said  Rudolph.  'Pass  the 
wine-cup,  then,  to  the  success  of  our  glorious  enterprise,  and 
the  health  of  this  our  new  associate  ! ' 

While  they  were  replenishing  the  cups  with  wine  of  a  quality 
far  superior  to  any  which  Arthur  had  yet  tasted  in  these 
regions,  he  thought  it  right,  before  engaging  himself  in  the 

VOL,  XXIII  —  8 


lU  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

pledge,  to  leam  the  secret  object  of  the  association  which 
seemed  desirous  of  adopting  him. 

*  Before  I  engage  my  poor  services  to  you,  fair  sirs,  since  it 
pleases  you  to  desire  them,  permit  me,'  he  said,  *to  ask  the 
purpose  and  character  of  the  undertaking  in  which  they  are  to 
be  employed  ? ' 

'  Shouldst  thou  have  brought  him  hither,'  said  the  cavalier 
in  blue  to  Rudolph,  *  without  satisfying  him  and  thyself  on 
that  point?' 

'Care  not  thou  about  it,  Laurenz,'  replied  the  Bernese,  *I 
know  my  man.  Be  it  known,  then,  to  you,  my  good  friend,' 
he  continued,  addressing  the  Englishman,  *  that  my  comrades 
and  I  are  determined  at  once  to  declare  the  freedom  of  the 
Swiss  commerce,  and  to  resist  to  the  death,  if  it  be  necessary, 
all  unlawful  and  extortionate  demands  on  the  part  of  our 
neighbours.' 

'I  understand  so  much,'  said  the  young  Englishman,  'and 
that  the  present  deputation  proceeds  to  the  Duke  of  Burgundy 
with  remonstrances  to  that  effect.' 

'  Hear  me,'  replied  Rudolph.  '  The  question  is  like  to  be 
brought  to  a  bloody  determination  long  ere  we  see  the  Duke 
of  Burgundy's  most  august  and  most  gracious  countenance. 
That  his  influence  should  be  used  to  exclude  us  from  B41e,  a 
neutral  town,  and  pertaining  to  the  Empire,  gives  us  cause  to  ex- 
pect the  worst  reception  when  we  enter  his  own  dominions.  "We 
have  even  reason  to  think  that  we  might  have  suffered  from  his 
hatred  already,  but  for  the  vigilance  of  the  ward  which  we  have 
kept.  Horsemen,  from  the  direction  of  La  Ferette,  have  this 
night  reconnoitred  our  posts ;  and  had  they  not  found  us  pre- 
pared, we  had,  without  question,  been  attacked  in  our  quarters. 
But  since  we  have  escaped  to-night,  we  must  take  care  for 
to-morrow.  For  this  purpose,  a  number  of  the  bravest  youth 
of  the  city  of  B4le,  incensed  at  the  pusillanimity  of  their 
magistrates,  are  determined  to  join  us,  in  order  to  wipe  away 
the  disgrace  which  the  cowardly  inhospitality  of  their  magistracy 
has  brought  on  their  native  place.* 

*  That  we  will  do  ere  the  sun,  that  will  rise  two  hours  hence, 
shall  sink  into  the  western  sky,'  said  the  cavalier  in  blue ;  and 
those  around  joined  him  in  stem  assent. 

'Gentle  sirs,'  replied  Arthur,  when  there  was  a  pause,  'let 
me  remind  you  that  the  embassy  which  you  attend  is  a  peace- 
ful one,  and  that  those  who  act  as  its  escort  ought  to  avoid 
anything  which  can  augment  the  differences  which  it  comes  to 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  115 

reconcile.  You  cannot  expect  to  receive  offence  in  the  Duke's 
dominions,  the  privileges  of  envoys  being  respected  in  all  civilised 
countries ;  and  you  will,  I  am  sure,  desire  to  offer  none.' 

'We  may  be  subjected  to  insult,  however,'  replied  the 
Bernese,  'and  that  through  your  concerns,  Arthur  Philipson, 
and  those  of  thy  father.' 

'  I  understand  you  not,'  replied  Philipson. 

'Your  father,'  answered  Donnerhugel,  'is  a  merchant,  and 
bears  with  him  wares  of  small  bulk  but  high  value  1 ' 

'  He  does  so,'  answered  Arthur ;  '  and  what  of  that  1 ' 

'Marry,'  answered  Rudolph,  'that,  if  it  be  not  better  looked 
to,  the  Bandog  of  Burgundy  is  like  to  fall  heir  to  a  large  pro- 
portion of  your  silks,  satins,  and  jewelry  work.' 

'Silks,  satins,  and  jewels ! '  exclaimed  another  of  the  revel- 
lers; 'such  wares  will  not  pass  toll-free  where  Archibald  of 
Hagenbach  hath  authority.' 

'  Fair  sirs,'  resumed  Arthur,  after  a  moment's  consideration, 
*  these  wares  are  my  father's  property,  not  mine ;  and  it  is  for 
him,  not  me,  to  pronounce  how  much  of  them  he  might  be  con- 
tent to  part  with  in  the  way  of  toll,  rather  than  give  occasion 
to  a  fray,  in  which  his  companions,  who  have  received  him  into 
their  society,  must  be  exposed  to  injury  as  well  as  himself  I 
can  only  say,  that  he  has  weighty  affairs  at  the  court  of  Bur- 
gundy, which  must  render  him  desirous  of  reaching  it  in  peace 
with  all  men;  and  it  is  my  private  belief  that,  rather  than 
incur  the  loss  and  danger  of  a  broil  with  the  garrison  of  La 
Ferette,  he  would  be  contented  to  sacrifice  all  the  property 
which  he  has  at  present  with  him.  Therefore,  I  must  request 
of  you,  gentlemen,  a  space  to  consult  his  pleasure  on  this  occa- 
sion ;  assuring  you  that,  if  it  be  his  will  to  resist  the  payment 
of  these  duties  to  Burgundy,  you  shall  find  in  me  one  who  is 
fully  determined  to  fight  to  the  last  drop  of  his  blood.' 

'Good  King  Arthur,'  said  Rudolph,  'thou  art  a  dutiful 
observer  of  the  Fourth  Commandment,  and  thy  days  shall  be 
long  in  the  land.  Do  not  suppose  us  neglectful  of  the  same 
duty,  although,  for  the  present,  we  conceive  ourselves  bound, 
in  the  first  place,  to  attend  to  the  weal  of  our  country,  the 
common  parent  of  our  fathers  and  ourselves.  But,  as  you  know 
our  profound  respect  for  the  Landamman,  you  need  not  fear 
that  we  shall  willingly  offer  him  offence,  by  rashly  engaging  in 
hostilities,  or  without  some  weighty  reason;  and  an  attempt 
to  plunder  his  guest  would  have  been  met,  on  his  part,  with 
resistance  to  the  death,     I  had  hoped  to  find  both  you  and 


116  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

your  father  prompt  enough  to  resent  such  a  gross  injury. 
Nevertheless,  if  your  father  inclines  to  present  his  fleece  to  be 
shorn  by  Archibald  of  Hagenbach,  whose  scissors,  he  will  find, 
clip  pretty  closely,  it  ^  would  be  unnecessary  and  uncivil  in  us 
to  interpose.  Meantime,  you  have  the  advantage  of  knowing 
that,  in  case  the  governor  of  La  Ferette  should  be  disposed  to 
strip  you  of  skin  as  well  as  fleece,  there  are  more  men  close  at 
hand  than  you  looked  for,  whom  you  will  find  both  able  and 
willing  to  render  you  prompt  assistance.' 

'  On  these  terms,'  said  the  Englishman,  *I  make  my  acknowl- 
edgments to  these  gentlemen  of  B41e,  or  whatever  other  country 
hath  sent  them  forth,  and  pledge  them  in  a  brotherly  cup  to 
our  farther  and  more  intimate  acquaintance.' 

*  Health  and  prosperity  to  the  United  Cantons  and  their 
friends ! '  answered  the  Blue  Cavalier.  *  And  death  and  con- 
fusion to  all  besides.' 

The  cups  were  replenished ;  and,  instead  of  a  shout  of  ap- 
plause, the  young  men  around  testified  their  devoted  determina- 
tion to  the  cause  which  was  thus  announced  by  grasping  each 
other's  hands,  and  then  brandishing  their  weapons  with  a  fierce 
yet  noiseless  gesture. 

'Thus,'  said  Eudolph  Donnerhugel,  *our  illustrious  ances- 
tors, the  fathers  of  Swiss  independence,  met  in  the  immortal 
field  of  Eutli,  between  Uri  and  Unterwalden.  Thus  they  swore 
to  each  other,  under  the  blue  firmament  of  heaven,  that  they 
would  restore  the  liberty  of  their  oppressed  country ;  and  history 
can  tell  how  well  they  kept  their  word.' 

*And  she  shall  record,'  said  the  Blue  Cavalier,  *how  well 
the  present  Switzers  can  preserve  the  freedom  which  their 
fathers  won.  Proceed  in  your  rounds,  good  Rudolph,  and  be 
assured  that,  at  the  signal  of  the  hauptman,  the  soldiers  will 
not  be  far  absent ;  all  is  arranged  as  formerly,  unless  you  have 
new  orders  to  give  us.' 

'  Hark  thee  hither,  Laurenz,'  said  Rudolph  to  the  Blue 
Cavalier ;  and  Arthur  could  hear  him  say,  '  Beware,  my  friend, 
that  the  Rhine  wine  be  not  abused  ;  if  there  is  too  much  pro- 
vision of  it,  manage  to  destroy  the  flasks  —  a  mule  may  stumble, 
thou  knowest,  or  so.  Give  not  way  to  Rudiger  in  this.  He  is 
grown  a  winebibber  since  he  joined  us.  We  must  bring  both 
heart  and  hand  to  what  may  be  done  to-morrow.'  They  then 
whispered  so  low  that  Arthur  could  hear  nothing  of  their 
farther  conference,  and  bid  each  other  adieu,  after  clasping 
hands,  as  if  they  were  renewing  some  solemn  pledge  of  union. 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  IIT 

Eudolph  and  his  party  then  moved  forward,  and  were  scarce 
out  of  sight  of  their  new  associates,  when  the  vidette,  or  fore- 
most of  their  patrol,  gave  the  signal  of  alarm.  Arthur's 
heart  leaped  to  his  lips.  '  It  is  Anne  of  Geierstein ! '  he  said 
internally. 

*The  dogs  are  silent,'  said  the  Bernese.  *  Those  who 
approach  must  be  the  companions  of  our  watch.' 

They  proved,  accordingly,  to  be  Rudiger  and  his  party,  who, 
halting  on  the  appearance  of  their  comrades,  made  and  under- 
went a  formal  challenge  —  such  advance  had  the  Swiss  already 
made  in  military  discipline,  which  was  but  little  and  rudely 
studied  by  the  infantry  in  other  parts  of  Europe.  Arthur 
could  hear  Rudolph  take  his  friend  Rudiger  to  task  for  not 
meeting  him  at  the  halting-place  appointed.  '  It  leads  to  new 
revelry  on  your  arrival,'  he  said,  'and  to-morrow  must  find  us 
cool  and  determined.' 

'Cool  as  an  icicle,  noble  hauptman,'  answered  the  son  of 
the  Landamman,  '  and  determined  as  the  rock  it  hangs  upon.' 

Rudolph  again  recommended  temperance,  and  the  young 
Biederman  promised  compliance.  The  two  parties  passed  each 
other  with  friendly  though  silent  greeting ;  and  there  was  soon, 
a  considerable  distance  between  them. 

The  country  was  more  open  on  the  side  of  the  castle  around 
which  their  duty  now  led  them  than  where  it  lay  opposite  to 
the  principal  gate.  The  glades  were  broad,  the  trees  thinly 
scattered  over  pasture-land,  and  there  were  no  thickets,  ravines, 
or  similar  places  of  ambush,  so  that  the  eye  might,  in  the  clear 
moonlight,  well  command  the  country. 

'  Here,'  said  Rudolph,  'we  may  judge  ourselves  secure  enough 
for  some  conference ;  and  therefore  may  I  ask  thee,  Arthur  of 
England,  now  thou  hast  seen  us  more  closely,  what  thinkest 
thou  of  the  Switzer  youth  ?  If  thou  hast  learned  less  than  I 
could  have  wished,  thank  thine  own  uncommunicative  temper, 
which  retired  in  some  degree  from  our  confidence.' 

'  Only  in  so  far  as  I  could  not  have  answered,  and  therefore 
ought  not  to  have  received,  it,'  said  Arthur.  'The  judgment 
I  have  been  enabled  to  form  amounts,  in  few  words,  to  this  : 
Your  purposes  are  lofty  and  noble  as  your  mountains  ;  but  the 
stranger  from  the  low  country  is  not  accustomed  to  tread 
the  circuitous  path  by  which  you  ascend  them.  My  foot  has 
been  always  accustomed  to  move  straight  forward  upon  the 
greensward.' 

*  You  speak  in  riddles,'  answered  the  Bernese. 


118  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*Not  so,'  returned  the  Englishman.  *I  think  you  ought 
plainly  to  mention  to  your  seniors  —  the  nominal  leaders  of 
young  men  who  seem  well  disposed  to  take  their  own  road  — 
that  you  expect  an  attack  in  the  neighbourhood  of  La  Ferette, 
and  hope  for  assistance  from  some  of  the  townsmen  of  B^le.' 

'Ay,  truly,'  answered  Donnerhugel ;  'and  the  Landamman 
would  stop  his  journey  till  he  despatched  a  messenger  for  a 
safe-conduct  to  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  and  should  he  grant 
it,  there  were  an  end  of  all  hope  of  war.' 

'  True,'  replied  Arthur ;  '  but  the  Landamman  would  thereby 
obtain  his  own  principal  object,  and  the  sole  purpose  of  the 
mission  —  that  is,  the  establishment  of  peace.' 

'  Peace  —  peace  ! '  answered  the  Bernese  hastily.  '  Were  my 
wishes  alone  to  be  opposed  to  those  of  Arnold  Biederman,  I 
know  so  much  of  his  honour  and  faith,  I  respect  so  highly  his 
valour  and  patriotism,  that  at  his  voice  I  would  sheathe  my 
sword,  even  if  my  most  mortal  enemy  stood  before  me.  But 
mine  is  not  the  single  wish  of  a  single  man  :  the  whole  of  my 
canton  and  that  of  Soleure  are  determined  on  war.  It  was 
by  war,  noble  war,  that  our  fathers  came  forth  from  the  house 
of  their  captivity ;  it  was  by  war,  successful  and  glorious  war, 
that  a  race,  who  had  been  held  scarce  so  much  worth  thinking 
on  as  the  oxen  which  they  goaded,  emerged  at  once  into  liberty 
and  consequence,  and  were  honoured  because  they  were  feared, 
as  much  as  they  had  been  formerly  despised  because  they  were 
unresisting.' 

'  This  may  be  all  veir  true,'  said  the  young  Englishman ; 
'but,  in  my  opinion,  the  object  of  your  mission  has  been 
determined  by  your  Diet  or  House  of  Commons.  They  have 
resolved  to  send  you  with  others  as  messengers  of  peace ;  but 
you  are  secretly  blowing  the  coals  of  war,  and  while  all,  or  most, 
of  your  senior  colleagues  are  setting  out  to-morrow  in  expecta- 
tion of  a  peaceful  journey,  you  stand  prepared  for  a  combat, 
and  look  for  the  means  of  giving  cause  for  it.' 

'  And  is  it  not  well  that  I  do  stand  so  prepared  1 '  answered 
Eudolph.  'If  our  reception  in  Burgundy's  dependencies  be 
peaceful,  as  you  say  the  rest  of  the  deputation  expect,  my 
precautions  will  be  needless ;  but  at  least  they  can  do  no  harm. 
If  it  prove  otherwise,  I  shall  be  the  means  of  averting  a  great 
misfortune  from  my  colleagues,  my  kinsman  Arnold  Biederman, 
my  fair  cousin  Anne,  your  father,  yourself —  from  all  of  us,  in 
short,  who  are  joyously  travelling  together.' 

Arthur  shook  his  head.     'There  is  something  in  all  this,' 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  119 

he  said,  *  which  I  understand  not,  and  will  not  seek  to  under- 
stand. I  only  pray  that  you  will  not  make  my  father's 
concerns  the  subject  of  breaking  truce ;  it  may,  as  you  hint, 
involve  the  Landamman  in  a  quarrel,  which  he  might  otherwise 
have  avoided.     I  am  sure  my  father  will  never  forgive  it.' 

'  I  have  pledged  my  word,'  said  Rudolph,  *  already  to  that 
effect.  But  if  he  should  like  the  usage  of  the.  Bandog  of  Bur- 
gundy less  than  you  seem  to  apprehend  he  will,  there  is  no 
harm  in  your  knowing  that,  in  time  of  need,  he  may  be  well 
and  actively  supported.' 

'  I  am  greatly  obliged  by  the  assurance,'  replied  the  English- 
man. 

'And  thou  mayst  thyself,  my  friend,'  continued  Rudolph, 
'  take  a  warning  from  what  thou  hast  heard  :  men  go  not  to  a 
bridal  in  armour,  nor  to  a  brawl  in  silken  doublet.' 

'  I  will  be  clad  to  meet  the  worst,'  said  Arthur ;  '  and  for 
that  purpose  I  will  don  a  light  hauberk  of  well-tempered  steel, 
proof  against  spear  or  arrow  ;  and  I  thank  you  for  your  kindly 
counsel.' 

'  Nay,  thank  not  me,'  said  Rudolph  :  *  I  were  ill  deserving 
to  be  a  leader  did  I  not  make  those  who  are  to  follow  me, 
more  especially  so  trusty  a  follower  as  thou  art,  aware  of  the 
time  when  they  should  buckle  on  their  armour  and  prepare  for 
hard  blows.' 

Here  the  conversation  paused  for  a  moment  or  two,  neither 
of  the  speakers  being  entirely  contented  with  his  companion, 
although  neither  pressed  any  farther  remark. 

The  Bernese,  judging  from  the  feelings  which  he  had  seen 
predominate  among  the  traders  of  his  own  country,  had  enter- 
tained little  doubt  that  the  Englishman,  finding  himself  power- 
fully supported  in  point  of  force,  would  have  caught  at  the 
opportunity  to  resist  pajdng  the  exorbitant  imposts  with  which 
he  was  threatened  at  the  next  town,  which  would  probably, 
without  any  effort  on  Rudolph's  part,  have  led  to  breaking  off 
the  truce  on  the  part  of  Arnold  Biederman  himself,  and  to  an 
instant  declaration  of  hostilities.  On  the  other  hand,  young 
Philipson  could  not  understand  or  approve  of  Donnerhugel's  con- 
duct, who,  himself  a  member  of  a  peaceful  deputation,  seemed 
to  be  animated  with  the  purpose  of  seizing  an  opportunity  to 
kindle  the  flames  of  war. 

Occupied  by  these  various  reflections,  they  walked  side  by 
side  for  some  time  without  speaking  together,  until  Rudolph 
broke  silence. 


120  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*Your  curiosity  is  then  ended,  sir  Englishman/  said  he, 
*  respecting  the  apparition  of  Anne  of  Geierstein  ? ' 

*Far  from  it,'  replied  Philipson;  *but  I  would  unwillingly 
intrude  any  questions  on  you  while  you  are  busy  with  the 
duties  of  your  patrol.' 

*That  may  be  considered  as  over,'  said  the  Bernese,  *for 
there  is  not  a  bush  near  us  to  cover  a  Burgundian  knave,  and 
a  glance  around  us  from  time  to  time  is  all  that  is  now  needful 
to  prevent  surprise.  And  so,  listen  while  I  tell  a  tale  never 
sung  or  harped  in  hall  or  bower,  and  which,  I  begin  to  think, 
deserves  as  much  credit,  at  least,  as  is  due  to  the  Tales  of  the 
Round  Table,  which  ancient  troubadours  and  minnesingers 
dole  out  to  us  as  the  authentic  chronicles  of  your  renowned 
namesake. 

'Of  Anne's  ancestors  on  the  male  side  of  the  house,'  con- 
tinued Budolph,  *  I  daresay  you  have  heard  enough,  and  are 
well  aware  how  they  dwelt  in  the  old  walls  at  Geierstein  beside 
the  cascade,  grinding  their  vassals,  devouring  the  substance  of 
their  less  powerful  neighbours,  and  plundering  the  goods  of  the 
travellers  whom  ill  luck  sent  within  ken  of  the  vulture's  eyrie, 
the  one  year ;  and  in  the  next,  wearying  the  shrines  for  mercy 
for  their  trespasses,  overwhelming  the  priests  with  the  wealth 
which  they  showered  upon  them,  and,  finally,  vowing  vows, 
and  making  pilgrimages,  sometimes  as  palmers,  sometimes  as 
crusaders,  as  far  as  Jerusalem  itself,  to  atone  for  the  iniquities 
which  they  had  committed  without  hesitation  or  struggle  of 
conscience.' 

'  Such,  I  have  understood,'  replied  the  young  Englishman, 
'  was  the  history  of  the  house  of  Geierstein,  till  Arnold,  or  his 
immediate  ancestors,  exchanged  the  lance  for  the  sheep-hook.' 

*  But  it  is  said,'  replied  the  Bernese,  *  that  the  powerful  and 
wealthy  Barons  of  Amheim,  of  Swabia,  whose  only  female 
descendant  became  the  wife  to  Count  Albert  of  Geierstein,  and 
the  mother  of  this  young  person,  whom  Swiss  call  simply  Anne, 
and  Germans  Countess  Anne  of  Geierstein,  were  nobles  of  a 
different  caste.  They  did  not  restrict  their  lives  within  the 
limits  of  sinning  and  repenting  —  of  plundering  harmless  peas- 
ants and  pampering  fat  monks;  but  were  distinguished  for 
something  more  than  building  castles  with  dungeons  o^ndi  folter- 
kammers^  or  torture-chambers,  and  founding  monasteries  with 
galilees  and  refectories. 

'These  same  Barons  of  Amheim  were  men  who  strove  to 
enlarge  the  boundaries  of  human  knowledge,  and  converted 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  121 

their  castle  into  a  species  of  college,  where  there  were  more 
ancient  volumes  than  the  monks  have  piled  together  in  the 
library  of  St.  Gall.  Nor  were  their  studies  in  books  alone. 
Deep  buried  in  their  private  laboratories,  they  attained  secrets 
which  were  afterwards  transmitted  through  the  race  from 
father  to  son,  and  were  supposed  to  have  approached  nearly  to 
the  deepest  recesses  of  alchemy.  The  report  of  their  wisdom 
and  their  wealth  was  often  brought  to  the  Imperial  footstool ; 
and  in  the  frequent  disputes  which  the  Emperors  maintained 
with  the  Popes  of  old,  it  is  said  they  were  encouraged,  if  not 
instigated,  by  the  counsels  of  the  Barons  of  Arnieim,  and 
supported  by  their  treasures.  It  was,  perhaps,  such  a  course 
of  politics,  joined  to  the  unusual  and  mysterious  studies  which 
the  family  of  Arnheim  so  long  pursued,  which  excited  against 
them  the  generally  received  opinion  that  they  were  assisted  in 
their  superhuman  researches  by  supernatural  influences.  The 
priests  were  active  in  forwarding  this  cry  against  men  who, 
perhaps,  had  no  other  fault  than  that  of  being  wiser  than 
themselves. 

*" Look  what  guests,"  they  said,  "are  received  in  the  halls 
of  Arnheim  !  Let  a  Christian  knight,  crippled  in  war  with  the 
Saracens,  present  himself  on  the  drawbridge,  he  is  guerdoned 
with  a  crust  and  a  cup  of  wine,  and  required  to  pass  on  his 
way.  If  a  palmer,  redolent  of  the  sanctity  acquired  by  his 
recent  visits  to  the  most  holy  shrines,  and  by  the  sacred  relics 
which  attest  and  reward  his  toil,  approach  the  unhallowed 
walls,  the  warder  bends  his  cross-bow,  and  the  porter  shuts  the 
gate,  as  if  the  wandering  saint  brought  the  plague  with  him 
from  Palestine.  But  comes  there  a  greybearded,  glib-tongued 
Greek,  with  his  parchment  scrolls,  the  very  letters  of  which 
are  painful  to  Christian  eyes ;  comes  there  a  Jewish  Rabbin, 
with  his  Talmud  and  Cabala  ;  comes  there  a  swarthy  sun-burnt 
Moor,  who  can  boast  of  having  read  the  language  of  the  stars 
in  Chaldea,  the  cradle  of  astrological  science  —  lo,  the  wander- 
ing impostor  or  sorcerer  occupies  the  highest  seat  at  the  Baron 
of  Arnheim's  board,  shares  with  him  the  labours  of  the  alembic 
and  the  furnace,  learns  from  him  mystic  knowledge,  like  that 
of  which  our  first  parents  participated  to  the  overthrow  of  their 
race,  and  requites  it  with  lessons  more  dreadful  than  he 
receives,  till  the  profane  host  has  added  to  his  hoard  of  unholy 
wisdom  all  that  the  pagan  visitor  can  communicate.  And 
these  things  are  done  in  Almain,  which  is  called  the  Holy 
Roman  Empire,  of  which  so  many  priests  are  princes  !  —  they  are 


122  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

done,  and  neither  ban  nor  monition  is  issued  against  a  race  of 
sorcerers  who,  from  age  to  age,  go  on  triumphing  in  their 
necromancy." 

*  Such  arguments,  which  were  echoed  from  mitred  abbots  to 
the  cell  of  anchorites,  seem,  nevertheless,  to  have  made  little 
impression  on  the  Imperial  council.  But  they  served  to  excite 
the  zeal  of  many  a  baron  and  free  count  of  the  Empire,  who 
were  taught  by  them  to  esteem  a  war  or  feud  with  the  Barons 
of  Arnheim  as  partaking  of  the  nature,  and  entitled  to  the 
immunities,  of  a  crusade  against  the  enemies  of  the  Faith,  and 
to  regard  an  attack  upon  these  obnoxious  potentates  as  a  mode 
of  clearing  off  their  deep  scores  with  the  Christian  Church.  But 
the  Lords  of  Arnheim,  though  not  seeking  for  quarrel,  were  by 
no  means  unwarlike,  or  averse  to  maintaining  their  own  de- 
fence. Some,  on  the  contrary,  belonging  to  this  obnoxious 
race  were  not  the  less  distinguished  as  gallant  knights  and 
good  men-at-arms.  They  were  besides  wealthy,  secured  and 
strengthened  by  great  alliances,  and  in  an  eminent  degree  wise 
and  provident.  This  the  parties  who  assailed  them  learned 
to  their  cost. 

*  The  confederacies  formed  against  the  Lords  of  Arnheim 
were  broken  up;  the  attacks  which  their  enemies  meditated 
were  anticipated  and  disconcerted;  and  those  who  employed 
actual  violence  were  repelled  with  signal  loss  to  the  assailants ; 
until  at  length  an  impression  was  produced  in  their  neigh- 
bourhood, that,  by  their  accurate  information  concerning  medi- 
tated violence,  and  their  extraordinary  powers  of  resisting 
and  defeating  it,  the  obnoxious  barons  must  have  brought  to 
their  defence  means  which  merely  human  force  was  incapable 
of  overthrowing ;  so  that,  becoming  as  much  feared  as  hated, 
they  were  suffered  for  the  last  generation  to  remain  unmo- 
lested. And  this  was  the  rather  the  case,  that  the  numerous 
vassals  of  this  great  house  were  perfectly  satisfied  with  their 
feudal  superiors,  abundantly  ready  to  rise  in  their  defence, 
and  disposed  to  believe  that,  whether  their  lords  were  sorcerers 
or  no,  their  own  condition  would  not  be  mended  by  exchanging 
their  government  either  for  the  rule  of  the  crusaders  in  this 
holy  warfare  or  that  of  the  churchmen  by  whom  it  was  insti- 
gated. The  race  of  these  barons  ended  in  Herman  von  Arn- 
heim, the^  maternal  grandfather  of  Anne  of  Geierstein.  He  was 
buried  with  his  helmet,  sword,  and  shield,  as  is  the  German 
custom  with  the  last  male  of  a  noble  family. 

'  But  he  left  an  only  daughter,  Sybilla  of  Arnheim,  to  inherit 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  US 

a  considerable  portion  of  his  estate ;  and  I  never  heard  that 
the  strong  imputation  of  sorcery  which  attached  to  her  house 
prevented  numerous  applications,  from  persons  of  the  highest 
distinction  in  the  Empire,  to  her  legal  guardian,  the  Emperor, 
for  the  rich  heiress's  hand  in  marriage.  Albert  of  Geierstein, 
however,  though  an  exile,  obtained  the  preference.  He  was 
gallant  and  handsome,  which  recommended  him  to  Sybilla ; 
and  the  Emperor,  bent  at  the  time  on  the  vain  idea  of  recover- 
ing his  authority  in  the  Swiss  mountains,  was  desirous  to  show 
himself  generous  to  Albert,  whom  he  considered  as  a  fugitive 
from  his  country  for  espousing  the  Imperial  cause.  You  may 
thus  see,  most  noble  King  Arthur,  that  Anne  of  Geierstein,  the 
only  child  of  their  marriage,  descends  from  no  ordinary  stock ; 
and  that  circumstances  in  which  she  may  be  concerned  are  not 
to  be  explained  or  judged  of  so  easily,  or  upon  the  same 
grounds  of  reasoning,  as  in  the  case  of  ordinary  persons.' 

'By  my  honest  word.  Sir  Rudolph  of  Donnerhugel,'  said 
Arthur,  studiously  labouring  to  keep  a  command  upon  his 
feelings,  '  I  can  see  nothing  in  your  narrative,  and  understand 
nothing  from  it,  unless  it  be  that,  because  in  Germany,  as  in 
other  countries,  there  have  been  fools  who  have  annexed  the 
idea  of  witchcraft  and  sorcery  to  the  possession  of  knowledge 
and  wisdom,  you  are  therefore  disposed  to  stigmatise  a  young 
maiden,  who  has  always  been  respected  and  beloved  by  those 
around  her,  as  a  disciple  of  arts  which,  I  trust,  are  as  uncommon 
as  unlawful.' 

Rudolph  paused  ere  he  replied. 

'  I  could  have  wished,'  he  said,  'that  you  had  been  satisfied 
with  the  general  character  of  Anne  of  Geierstein's  maternal 
family,  as  offering  some  circumstances  which  may  account  for 
what  you  have,  according  to  your  own  report,  this  night  wit- 
nessed, and  I  am  really  unwilling  to  go  into  more  particular 
details.  To  no  one  can  Anne  of  Geierstein's  fame  be  so  dear 
as  to  me.  I  am,  after  her  uncle's  family,  her  nearest  relative, 
and  had  she  remained  in  Switzerland,  or  should  she,  as  is  most 
probable,  return  thither  after  the  present  visit  to  her  father, 
perhaps  our  connexion  might  be  drawn  yet  closer.  This  has, 
indeed,  only  been  prevented  by  certain  prejudices  of  her  uncle's 
respecting  her  father's  authority,  and  the  nearness  of  our  rela- 
tionship, which,  however,  comes  within  reach  of  a  license  very 
frequently  obtained.  But  I  only  mention  these  things  to  show 
you  how  much  more  tender  I  must  necessarily  hold  Anne  of 
Geierstein's  reputation  than  it  is  possible  for  you  to  do,  being 


124  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  / 

a  stranger,  known  to  her  but  a  short  while  since,  and  soon  to 
part  with  her,  as  I  understand  your  purpose,  for  ever.' 

The  turn  taken  in  this  kind  of  apology  irritated  Arthur  so 
highly,  that  it  required  all  the  reasons  which  recommended 
coolness  to  enable  him  to  answer  with  assumed  composure. 

*  I  can  have  no  ground,  sir  hauptman,'  he  said,  *to  challenge 
any  opinion  which  you  may  entertain  of  a  young  person  with 
whom  you  are  so  closely  connected  as  you  appear  to  be  with 
Anne  of  Geierstein.  I  only  wonder  that,  with  such  regard  for 
her  as  your  relationship  implies,  you  should  be  disposed  to 
receive,  on  popular  and  trivial  traditions,  a  belief  which  must 
injuriously  affect  your  kinswoman,  more  especially  one  with 
whom  you  intimate  a  wish  to  form  a  still  more  close  connexion. 
Bethink  you,  sir,  that  in  all  Christian  lands  the  imputation  of 
sorcery  is  the  most  foul  which  can  be  thrown  on  Christian  man 
or  woman.' 

*  And  I  am  so  far  from  intimating  such  an  imputation,'  said 
Rudolph,  somewhat  fiercely,  '  that,  by  the  good  sword  I  wear, 
he  that  dared  give  breath  to  such  a  thought  against  Anne  of 
Geierstein  must  undergo  my  challenge,  and  take  my  life  or 
lose  his  own.  But  the  question  is  not  whether  the  maiden  her- 
self practises  sorcery,  which  he  who  avers  had  better  get  ready 
his  tomb,  and  provide  for  his  soul's  safety ;  the  doubt  lies  here, 
whether,  as  the  descendant  of  a  family  whose  relations  with  the 
unseen  world  are  reported  to  have  been  of  the  closest  degree, 
elfish  and  fantastical  beings  may  not  have  power  to  imitate  her 
form,  and  to  present  her  appearance  where  she  is  not  person- 
ally present ;  in  fine,  whether  they  have  permission  to  play  at 
her  expense  fantastical  tricks,  which  they  cannot  exercise  over 
other  mortals,  whose  forefathers  have  ever  regulated  their  lives 
by  the  rules  of  the  church,  and  died  in  regular  communion 
with  it.  And,  as  I  sincerely  desire  to  retain  your  esteem,  I 
have  no  objection  to  communicate  to  you  more  particular 
circumstances  respecting  her  genealogy,  confirming  the  idea  I 
have  now  expressed.  But  you  will  understand  they  are  of  the 
most  private  nature,  and  that  I  expect  secrecy  under  the 
strictest  personal  penalty.' 

'  I  shall  be  silent,  sir,'  replied  the  young  Englishman,  still 
struggling  with  suppressed  passion,  'on  everything  respecting 
the  character  of  a  maiden  whom  I  am  bound  to  respect  so 
highly.  But  the  fear  of  no  man's  displeasure  can  add  a 
feather's  weight  to  the  guarantee  of  my  own  honour.' 

*  Be  it  so,'  said  Budolph ;  '  it  is  not  my  wish  to  awake  angry 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  125 

feeliogs ;  but  I  am  desirous,  both  for  the  sake  of  your  good 
opinion,  which  I  value,  and  also  for  the  plainer  explanation  of 
what  I  have  darkly  intimated,  to  communicate  to  you  what 
otherwise  I  would  much  rather  have  left  untold.' 

'  You  must  be  guided  by  your  own  sense  of  what  is  necessary 
and  proper  in  the  case,'  answered  Philipson ;  '  but  remember  I 
press  not  on  your  confidence  for  the  communication  of  any- 
thing that  ought  to  remain  secret,  far  less  where  that  young 
lady  is  the  subject.' 

Rudolph  answered,  affcer  a  minute's  pause  — '  Thou  hast  seen 
and  heard  too  much,  Arthur,  not  to  learn  the  whole,  or  at  least 
all  that  I  know  or  apprehend  on  the  mysterious  subject.  It  is 
impossible  but  the  circumstances  must  at  times  recur  to  your 
recollection,  and  I  am  desirous  that  you  should  possess  all  the 
information  necessary  to  understand  them  as  clearly  as  the 
nature  of  the  facts  will  permit.  We  have  yet,  keeping  left- 
ward to  view  the  bog,  upwards  of  a  mile  to  make  ere  the  circuit 
of  the  castle  is  accomplished.  It  will  afford  leisure  enough  for 
the  tale  I  have  to  tell.' 

'  Speak  on  —  I  listen ! '  answered  the  Englishman,  divided 
between  his  desire  to  know  all  that  it  was  possible  to  learn 
concerning  Anne  of  Geierstein  and  his  dislike  to  hear  her  name 
pronounced  with  such  pretensions  as  those  of  Donnerhugel, 
together  with  the  revival  of  his  original  prejudices  against  the 
gigantic  Swiss,  whose  manners,  always  blunt,  nearly  to  coarse- 
ness, seemed  now  marked  by  assumed  superiority  and  pre- 
sumption. Arthur  listened,  however,  to  his  wild  tale,  and 
the  interest  which  he  took  in  it  soon  overpowered  all  other 
sensations. 


CHAPTER  XI 

DonnerhugeVs  Narrative 

These  be  the  adept's  doctrines :  every  element 
Is  peopled  with  its  separate  race  of  spirits. 
The  airy  Sylphs  on  the  blue  ether  float ; 
Deep  in  the  earthy  cavern  skulks  the  Gnome  ; 
The  sea-green  Naiad  skims  the  ocean-billow ; 
And  the  fierce  fire  is  yet  a  friendly  home 
To  its  peculiar  sprite,  the  Salamander. 

ATwnymous. 

I  TOLD  you  (said  Rudolph),  that  the  Lords  of  Amheim, 
though  from  father  to  son  they  were  notoriously  addicted 
to  secret  studies,  were,  nevertheless,  like  the  other  German 
nobles,  followers  of  war  and  the  chase.  This  was  peculiarly  the 
case  with  Anne's  maternal  grandfather,  Herman  of  Arnheim, 
who  prided  himself  on  possessing  a  splendid  stud  of  horses,  and 
one  steed  in  particular,  the  noblest  ever  known  in  these  circles 
of  Germany.  I  should  make  wild  work  were  I  to  attempt  a 
description  of  such  an  animal,  so  I  will  content  myself  with 
saying  his  colour  was  jet-black,  without  a  hair  of  white  either 
on  his  face  or  feet.  For  this  reason,  and  the  wildness  of  his 
disposition,  his  master  had  termed  him  ApoUyon  —  a  circum- 
stance which  was  secretly  considered  as  tending  to  sanction  the 
evil  reports  which  touched  the  house  of  Arnheim,  being,  it  was 
said,  the  naming  of  a  favourite  animal  after  a  foul  fiend. 

It  chanced,  one  November  day,  that  the  baron  had  been 
hunting  in  the  forest,  and  did  not  reach  home  till  nightfall. 
There  were  no  guests  with  him,  for,  as  I  hinted  to  you  before, 
the  castle  of  Arnheim  seldom  received  any  other  than  those 
from  whom  its  inhabitants  hoped  to  gain  augmentation  of 
knowledge.  The  baron  was  seated  alone  in  his  hall,  illumi- 
nated with  cressets  and  torches.  His  one  hand  held  a  volume 
covered  with  characters  unintelligible  to  all  save  himself  The 
other  rested  on  the  marble  table,  on  which  was  placed  a  flask 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  Ul 

of  Tokay  wine.  A  page  stood  in  respectful  attendance  near 
the  bottom  of  the  large  and  dim  apartment,  and  no  sound  was 
heard  save  that  of  the  night  wind,  when  it  sighed  mournfully- 
through  the  rusty  coats  of  mail,  and  waved  the  tattered 
banners  which  were  the  tapestry  of  the  feudal  hall.  At  once 
the  footstep  of  a  person  was  heard  ascending  the  stairs  in  haste 
and  trepidation;  the  door  of  the  hall  was  thrown  violently 
open,  and,  terrified  to  a  degree  of  ecstasy,  Caspar,  the  head  of 
the  baron's  stable,  or  his  master  of  horse,  stumbled  up  almost 
to  the  foot  of  the  table  at  which  his  lord  was  seated,  with  the 
exclamation  in  his  mouth  — 

*  My  lord  —  my  lord,  a  fiend  is  in  the  stable ! ' 

*  What  means  this  folly  ? '  said  the  baron,  arising,  surprised 
and  displeased  at  an  interruption  so  unusual. 

'Let  me  endure  your  displeasure,'  said  Caspar,  *if  I  speak 
not  truth !    ApoUyon '     Here  he  pa,used. 

'Speak  out,  thou  frightened  fool,'  said  the  baron;  'is  my 
horse  sick,  or  injured?' 

The  master  of  the  stalls  again  gasped  forth  the  word 
'  ApoUyon ! ' 

'Say  on,'  said  the  baron;  ' were  ApoUyon  in  presence  per- 
sonally, it  were  nothing  to  shake  a  brave  man's  mind.' 

'  The  devil,'  answered  the  master  of  the  horse,  '  is  in  ApoU- 
yon's  staU ! ' 

'  Fool ! '  exclaimed  the  nobleman,  snatching  a  torch  from  the 
wall ;  '  what  is  it  that  could  have  turned  thy  brain  in  such  silly 
fashion  ?  Things  like  thee,  that  are  born  to  serve  us,  should 
hold  their  brains  on  a  firmer  tenure,  for  our  sakes,  if  not  for 
that  of  their  worthless  selves.' 

As  he  spoke,  he  descended  to  the  court  of  the  castle,  to  visit 
the  stately  range  of  stables  which  occupied  aU  the  lower  part 
of  the  quadrangle  on  one  side.  He  entered,  where  fifty  gallant 
steeds  stood  in  rows  on  each  side  of  the  ample  hall.  At  the 
side  of  each  stall  hung  the  weapons  of  offence  and  defence  of  a 
man-at-arms,  as  bright  as  constant  attention  could  make  them, 
together  with  the  buff-coat  which  formed  the  trooper's  under 
garment.  The  baron,  followed  by  one  or  two  of  the  domestics, 
who  had  assembled  fuU  of  astonishment  at  the  unusual  alarm, 
hastened  up  to  the  head  of  the  stable,  betwixt  the  rows  of 
steeds.  As  he  approached  the  stall  of  his  favourite  horse,  which 
was  the  uppermost  of  the  right-hand  row,  the  gallant  steed 
neither  neighed,  nor  shook  his  head,  nor  stamped  with  his 
foot,  nor  gave  the  usual  signs  of  joy  at  his  lord's  approach; 


128  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

a  faint  moaning,  as  if  he  implored  assistance,  was  the  only- 
acknowledgment  he  gave  of  the  baron's  presence. 

Sir  Herman  held  up  the  torch,  and  discovered  that  there 
was  indeed  a  tall  dark  figure  standing  in  the  stall,  resting  his 
hand  on  the  horse's  shoulder.  *  Who  art  thou,'  said  the  baron, 
*  and  what  dost  thou  here  ? ' 

'I  seek  refuge  and  hospitality,'  replied  the  stranger;  *and 
I  conjure  thee  to  grant  it  me,  by  the  shoulder  of  thy  horse, 
and  by  the  edge  of  thy  sword,  and  so  as  they  may  never  fail 
thee  when  thy  need  is  at  the  utmost!' 

*Thou  art,  then,  a  brother  of  the  sacred  fire,'  said  Baron 
Herman  of  Amheim ;  *  and  I  may  not  refuse  thee  the  refuge 
which  thou  requirest  of  me,  after  the  ritual  of  the  Persian  Magi. 
From  whom,  and  for  what  length  of  time,  dost  thou  crave  my 
protection  ? ' 

'  From  those,'  replied  the  stranger,  *  who  shall  arrive  in  quest 
of  me  before  the  morning  cock  shall  crow,  and  for  the  full  space 
of  a  year  and  a  day  from  this  period.' 

*I  may  not  refuse  thee,'  said  the  baron,  *  consistently  with 
my  oath  and  my  honour.  For  a  year  and  a  day  I  will  be  thy 
pledge,  and  thou  shalt  share  with  me  roof  and  chamber,  wine 
and  food.  But  thou,  too,  must  obey  the  law  of  Zoroaster, 
which,  as  it  says,  "  Let  the  stronger  protect  the  weaker  brother," 
says  also,  "Let  the  wiser  instruct  the  brother  who  hath  less 
knowledge."  I  am  the  stronger,  and  thou  shalt  be  safe  under 
my  protection ;  but  thou  art  the  wiser,  and  must  instruct  me 
in  the  more  secret  mysteries.' 

*  You  mock  your  servant,'  said  the  stranger  visitor;  *but,  if 
aught  is  known  to  Dannischemend  which  can  avail  Herman, 
his  instructions  shall  be  as  those  of  a  father  to  a  son.' 

'Come  forth,  then,  from  thy  place  of  refuge,'  said  the  Baron 
of  Arnheim.  *  I  swear  to  thee  by  the  sacred  fire  which  lives 
without  terrestrial  fuel,  and  by  the  fraternity  which  is  betwixt 
us,  and  by  the  shoulder  of  my  horse,  and  the  edge  of  my  good 
sword,  I  will  be  thy  warrand  for  a  year  and  a  day,  if  so  far  my 
power  shall  extend.' 

The  stranger  came  forth  accordingly;  and  those  who  saw 
the  singularity  of  his  appearance  scarce  wondered  at  the  fears 
of  Caspar,  the  stall-master,  when  he  found  such  a  person  in  the 
stable,  by  what  mode  of  entrance  he  was  unable  to  conceive. 
"When  he  reached  the  lighted  hall  to  which  the  baron  conducted 
him,  as  he  would  have  done  a  welcome  and  honoured  guest,  the 
stranger  appeared  to  be  very  tall,  and  of  a  dignified  aspect 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  129 

His  dress  was  Asiatic,  being  a  long  black  caftan,  or  gown,  like 
tbat  worn  by  Armenians,  and  a  lofty  square  cap,  covered  with 
the  wool  of  Astracan  lambs.  Every  article  of  the  dress  was 
black,  which  gave  relief  to  the  long  white  beard  that  flowed 
down  over  his  bosom.  His  gown  was  fastened  by  a  sash  of 
bl£U3k  silk  net-work,  in  which,  instead  of  a  poniard  or  sword, 
was  stuck  a  silver  case,  containing  writing-materials  and  a  roll 
of  parchment.  The  only  ornament  of  his  apparel  consisted  in 
a  large  ruby  of  uncommon  brilliancy,  which,  when  he  approached 
the  light,  seemed  to  glow  with  such  liveliness  as  if  the  gem 
itself  had  emitted  the  rays  which  it  only  reflected  back.  To 
the  offer  of  refreshment,  the  stranger  replied,  'Bread  I  may 
not  eat,  water  shall  not  moisten  my  lips,  until  the  avenger 
shall  have  passed  by  the  threshold.' 

The  baron  commanded  the  lamps  to  be  trimmed  and  fresh 
torches  to  be  lighted,  and,  sending  his  whole  household  to  rest, 
remained  seated  in  the  hall  along  with  the  stranger,  his  sup- 
pliant. At  the  dead  hour  of  midnight,  the  gates  of  the  castle 
were  shaken  as  by  a  whirlwind,  and  a  voice,  as  of  a  herald,  was 
heard  to  demand  a  herald's  lawful  prisoner,  Dannischemend, 
the  son  of  Hali.  The  warder  then  heard  a  lower  window  of 
the  hall  thrown  open,  and  could  distinguish  his  master's  voice 
addressing  the  person  who  had  thus  summoned  the  castle.  But 
the  night  was  so  dark  that  he  might  not  see  the  speakers,  and 
the  language  which  they  used  was  either  entirely  foreign  or  so 
largely  interspersed  with  strange  words  that  he  could  not  un- 
derstand a  syllable  which  they  said.  Scarce  five  minutes  had 
elapsed,  when  he  who  was  without  again  elevated  his  voice 
as  before,  and  said  in  German,  '  For  a  year  and  a  day,  then, 
I  forbear  my  forfeiture;  but  coming  for  it  when  that  time 
shall  elapse,  I  come  for  my  right,  and  will  no  longer  be  with- 
stood.' 

From  that  period,  Dannischemend,  the  Persian,  was  a  con- 
stant guest  at  the  castle  of  Arnheim,  and,  indeed,  never  for 
any  visible  purpose  crossed  the  drawbridge.  His  amusements, 
or  studies,  seemed  centred  in  the  library  of  the  castle,  and  in 
the  laboratory,  where  the  baron  sometimes  toiled  in  conjunction 
with  him  for  many  hours  together.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
castle  could  find  no  fault  in  the  Magus,  or  Persian,  excepting 
his  apparently  dispensing  with  the  ordinances  of  religion,  since 
he  neither  went  to  mass  nor  confession,  nor  attended  upon 
other  religious  ceremonies.  The  chaplain  did  indeed  profess 
himself  satisfied  with  the  state  of  the  stranger's  conscience; 

VOL.  XXIII  —  9 


130  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

but  it  had  been  long  suspected  that  the  worthy  ecclesiastic 
held  his  easy  office  on  the  very  reasonable  condition  of  approv- 
ing the  principles  and  asserting  the  orthodoxy  of  all  guests 
whom  the  barori  invited  to  share  his  hospitality. 

It  was  observed  that  Dannischemend  was  rigid  in  paying 
his  devotions,  by  prostrating  himself  in  the  first  rays  of  the 
rising  sun,  and  that  he  constructed  a  silver  lamp  of  the  most 
beautiful  proportions,  which  he  placed  on  a  pedestal,  represent- 
ing a  truncated  column  of  marble,  having  its  base  sculptured 
with  hieroglyphical  imagery.  With  what  essences  he  fed  this 
flame  was  unknown  to  all,  unless  perhaps  to  the  baron ;  but 
the  flame  was  more  steady,  pure,  and  lustrous  than  any  which 
was  ever  seen,  excepting  the  sun  of  heaven  itself,  and  it  was 
generally  believed  that  the  Magian  made  it  an  object  of  worship 
in  the  absence  of  that  blessed  luminary.  Nothing  else  was 
observed  of  him,  unless  that  his  morals  seemed  severe,  his 
gravity  extreme,  his  general  mode  of  life  very  temperate,  and 
his  fasts  and  vigils  of  frequent  recurrence.  Except  on  particular 
occasions,  he  spoke  to  no  one  of  the  castle  but  the  baron  ;  but,  as 
he  had  money  and  was  liberal,  he  was  regarded  by  the  domestics 
with  awe  indeed,  but  without  fear  or  dislike. 

Winter  was  succeeded  by  spring,  summer  brought  her 
flowers,  and  autumn  her  fruits,  which  ripened  and  were  fading, 
when  a  foot-page,  who  sometimes  attended  them  in  the  labora- 
tory to  render  manual  assistance  when  required,  heard  the 
Persian  say  to  the  Baron  of  Arnheim,  *  You  will  do  well,  my 
son,  to  mark  my  words  ;  for  my  lessons  to  you  are  drawing  to 
an  end,  and  there  is  no  power  on  earth  which  can  longer  post- 
pone my  fate.' 

*  Alas,  my  master  ! '  said  the  baron,  *  and  must  I  then  lose 
the  benefit  of  your  direction,  just  when  your  guiding  hand 
becomes  necessary  to  place  me  on  the  very  pinnacle  of  the 
temple  of  wisdom  ? ' 

*Be  not  discouraged,  my  son,'  answered  the  sage.  'I  will 
bequeath  the  task  of  perfecting  you  in  your  studies  to  my 
daughter,  who  will  come  hither  on  purpose.  But  remember, 
if  you  value  the  permanence  of  your  family,  look  not  upon  her 
as  aught  else  than  a  helpmate  in  your  studies ;  for  if  you 
forget  the  instructress  in  the  beauty  of  the  maiden,  you  will 
be  buried  with  your  sword  and  your  shield,  as  the  last  male  of 
your  house ;  and  farther  evil,  believe  me,  will  arise,  for  such 
alliances  never  come  to  a  happy  issue,  of  which  my  own  is  an 
example.     But  hush,  we  are  observed.' 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  131 

The  household  of  the  castle  of  Arnheim,  having  but  few 
things  to  interest  them,  were  the  more  eager  observers  of  those 
which  came  under  their  notice ;  and  when  the  termination  of 
the  period  when  the  Persian  was  to  receive  shelter  in  the  castle 
began  to  approach,  some  of  the  inmates,  under  various  pretexts, 
but  which  resolved  into  very  terror,  absconded,  while  others 
held  themselves  in  expectation  of  some  striking  and  terrible 
catastrophe.  None  such,  however,  took  place;  and,  on  the 
expected  anniversary,  long  ere  the  witching  hour  of  midnight, 
Dannischemend  terminated  his  visit  in  the  castle  of  Arnheim 
by  riding  away  from  the  gate  in  the  guise  of  an  ordinary 
traveller.  The  baron  had  meantime  taken  leave  of  his  tutor 
with  many  marks  of  regret,  and  some  which  amounted  even  to 
sorrow.  The  sage  Persian  comforted  him  by  a  long  whisper, 
of  which  the  last  part  only  was  heard  —  '  By  the  first  beam  of 
sunshine  she  will  be  with  you.  Be  kind  to  her,  but  not  over 
kind.'  He  then  departed,  and  was  never  again  seen  or  heard 
of  in  the  vicinity  of  Arnheim. 

The  baron  was  observed  during  all  the  day  after  the  depar- 
ture of  the  stranger  to  be  particularly  melancholy.  He  re- 
mained, contrary  to  his  custom,  in  the  great  hall,  and  neither 
visited  the  library  nor  the  laboratory,  where  he  could  no 
longer  enjoy  the  company  of  his  departed  instructor.  At  dawn 
of  the  ensuing  morning,  Sir  Herman  summoned  his  page,  and, 
contrary  to  his  habits,  which  used  to  be  rather  careless  in 
respect  of  apparel,  he  dressed  himself  with  great  accuracy; 
and,  as  he  was  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  of  a  noble  figure,  he 
had  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  his  appearance.  Having  per- 
formed his  toilet,  he  waited  till  the  sun  had  just  appeared 
above  the  horizon,  and,  taking  from  the  table  the  key  of  the 
laboratory,  which  the  page  believed  must  have  lain  there  all 
night,  he  walked  thither,  followed  by  his  attendant.  At  the 
door  the  baron  made  a  pause,  and  seemed  at  one  time  to 
doubt  whether  he  should  not  send  away  the  page,  at  another 
to  hesitate  whether  he  should  open  the  door,  as  one  might 
do  who  expected  some  strange  sight  within.  He  pulled  up 
resolution,  however,  turned  the  key,  threw  the  door  open,  and 
entered.  The  page  followed  close  behind  his  master,  and  was 
astonished  to  the  point  of  extreme  terror  at  what  he  beheld, 
although  the  sight,  however  extraordinary,  had  in  it  nothing 
save  what  was  agreeable  and  lovely. 

The  silver  lamp  was  extinguished,  or  removed  from  its 
pedestal,  where  stood  in  place  of  it  a  most  beautiful  female 


132  ANx\E  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

figure  in  the  Persian  costume,  in  which  the  colour  of  pink 
predominated.  But  she  wore  no  turban  or  head-dress  of  any 
kind,  saving  a  blue  riband  drawn  through  her  auburn  hair, 
and  secured  by  a  gold  clasp,  the  outer  side  of  which  was  orna- 
mented by  a  superb  opal,  which,  amid  the  changing  lights 
peculiar  to  that  gem,  displayed  internally  a  slight  tinge  of  red 
like  a  spark  of  fire. 

The  figure  of  this  young  person  was  rather  under  the  middle 
size,  but  perfectly  well  formed;  the  Eastern  dress,  with  the 
wide  trowsers  gathered  round  the  ankles,  made  visible  the 
smallest  and  most  beautiful  feet  which  had  ever  been  seen, 
while  hands  and  arms  of  the  most  perfect  symmetry  were 
partly  seen  from  under  the  folds  of  the  robe.  The  little  lady's 
countenance  was  of  a  lively  and  expressive  character,  in  which 
spirit  and  wit  seemed  to  predominate ;  and  the  quick  dark  eye, 
with  its  beautifully  formed  eyebrow,  seemed  to  presage  the 
arch  remark  to  which  the  rosy  and  half-smiling  lip  appeared 
ready  to  give  utterance. 

The  pedestal  on  which  she  stood,  or  rather  was  perched, 
would  have  appeared  unsafe  had  any  figure  heavier  than  her 
own  been  placed  there.  But,  however  she  had  been  trans- 
ported thither,  she  seemed  to  rest  on  it  as  lightly  and  safely 
as  a  linnet  when  it  has  dropped  from  the  sky  on  the  tendril  of 
a  rose-bud.  The  first  beam  of  the  rising  sun,  falling  through  a 
window  directly  opposite  to  the  pedestal,  increased  the  effect 
of  this  beautiful  figure,  which  remained  as  motionless  as  if  it 
had  been  carved  in  marble.  She  only  expressed  her  sense 
of  the  Baron  of  Arnheim's  presence  by  something  of  a 
quicker  respiration,  and  a  deep  blush,  accompanied  by  a  slight 
smile. 

Whatever  reason  the  Baron  of  Arnheim  might  have  for 
expecting  to  see  some  such  object  as  now  exhibited  its  actual 
presence,  the  degree  of  beauty  which  it  presented  was  so  much 
beyond  his  expectation,  that  for  an  instant  he  stood  without 
breath  or  motion.  At  once,  however,  he  seemed  to  recollect 
that  it  was  his  duty  to  welcome  the  fair  stranger  to  his  castle, 
and  to  relieve  her  from  her  precarious  situation.  He  stepped 
forward  accordingly  with  the  words  of  welcome  on  his  tongue, 
and  was  extending  his  arms  to  lift  her  from  the  pedestal,  which 
was  nearly  six  feet  high;  but  the  light  and  active  stranger 
merely  accepted  the  support  of  his  hand,  and  descended  on  the 
floor  as  light  and  as  safe  as  if  she  had  been  formed  of  gossamer. 
It  was,  indeed,  only  by  the  momentary  pressure  of  her  little 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  133 

hand  that  the  Baron  of  Amheim  was  finally  made  sensible  that 
he  had  to  do  with  a  being  of  flesh  and  blood. 

*  I  am  come  as  I  have  been  commanded,'  she  said,  looking 
around  her.  '  You  must  expect  a  strict  and  diligent  mistress, 
and  I  hope  for  the  credit  of  an  attentive  pupil.' 

After  the  arrival  of  this  singular  and  interesting  being  in 
the  castle  of  Arnheim,  various  alterations  took  place  within  the 
interior  of  the  household.  A  lady  of  high  rank  and  small 
fortune,  the  respectable  widow  of  a  count  of  the  Empire,  who 
was  the  baron's  blood  relation,  received  and  accepted  an  in- 
vitation to  preside  over  her  kinsman's  domestic  afiairs,  and 
remove,  by  her  countenance,  any  suspicions  which  might  arise 
from  the  presence  of  Hermione,  as  the  beautiful  Persian  was 
generally  called. 

The  Countess  "Waldstetten  carried  her  complaisance  so  far 
as  to  be  present  on  almost  all  occasions,  whether  in  the  labora- 
tory or  library,  when  the  Baron  of  Arnheim  received  lessons 
from  or  pursued  studies  with  the  young  and  lovely  tutor  who 
had  been  thus  strangely  substituted  for  the  aged  Magus.  If 
this  lady's  report  was  to  be  trusted,  their  pursuits  were  of  a 
most  extraordinary  nature,  and  the  results  which  she  sometimes 
witnessed  were  such  as  to  create  fear  as  well  as  surprise.  But 
she  strongly  vindicated  them  from  practising  unlawful  arts  or 
overstepping  the  boundaries  of  natural  science. 

A  better  judge  of  such  matters,  the  Bishop  of  Bamberg 
himself,  made  a  visit  to  Arnheim,  on  purpose  to  witness  the 
wisdom  of  which  so  much  was  reported  through  the  whole 
Ehine  country.  He  conversed  with  Hermione,  and  found  her 
deeply  impressed  with  the  truths  of  religion,  and  so  perfectly 
acquainted  with  its  doctrines,  that  he  compared  her  to  a  doctor 
of  theology  in  the  dress  of  an  Eastern  dancing-girl.  When 
asked  regarding  her  knowledge  of  languages  and  science,  he 
answered,  that  he  had  been  attracted  to  Arnheim  by  the  most 
extravagant  reports  on  these  points,  but  that  he  must  return 
confessing  'the  half  thereof  had  not  been  told  unto  him.' 

In  consequence  of  this  indisputable  testimony,  the  sinister 
reports  which  had  been  occasioned  by  the  singular  appearance 
of  the  fair  stranger  were  in  a  great  measure  lulled  to  sleep, 
especially  as  her  amiable  manners  won  the  involuntary  good- 
will of  every  one  that  approached  her. 

Meantime  a  marked  alteration  began  to  take  place  in  the 
interviews  between  the  lovely  tutor  and  her  pupil.  These  were 
conducted  with  the  same  caution  as  before,  and  never,  so  far 


134  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

as  could  be  observed,  took  place  without  the  presence  of  the 
Countess  of  Waldstetten  or  some  other  third  person  of  respect- 
ability. But  the  scenes  of  these  meetings  were  no  longer  the 
scholar's  library  or  the  chemist's  laboratory  :  the  gardens,  the 
groves  were  resorted  to  for  amusement,  and  parties  of  hunting 
and  fishing,  with  evenings  spent  in  the  dance,  seemed  to 
announce  that  the  studies  of  wisdom  were  for  a  time  abandoned 
for  the  pursuits  of  pleasure.  It  was  not  difficult  to  guess  the 
meaning  of  this  :  the  Baron  of  Arnheim  and  his  fair  guest, 
speaking  a  language  different  from  all  others,  could  enjoy  their 
private  conversation  even  amid  all  the  tumult  of  gaiety  around 
them  ;  and  no  one  was  surprised  to  hear  it  formally  announced, 
after  a  few  weeks  of  gaiety,  that  the  fair  Persian  was  to  be 
wedded  to  the  Baron  of  Arnheim. 

The  manners  of  this  fascinating  young  person  were  so 
pleasing,  her  conversation  so  animated,  her  wit  so  keen,  yet 
so  well  tempered  with  good-nature  and  modesty,  that,  notwith- 
standing her  unknown  origin,  her  high  fortune  attracted  less 
envy  than  might  have  been  expected  in  a  case  so  singular. 
Above  all,  her  generosity  amazed  and  won  the  hearts  of  all  the 
young  persons  who  approached  her.  Her  wealth  seemed  to  be 
measureless,  for  the  many  rich  jewels  which  she  distributed 
among  her  fair  friends  would  otherwise  have  left  her  without 
ornaments  for  herself  These  good  qualities,  her  liberality 
above  all,  together  with  a  simplicity  of  thought  and  character 
which  formed  a  beautiful  contrast  to  the  depth  of  acquired 
knowledge  which  she  was  well  known  to  possess  —  these,  and 
her  total  want  of  ostentation,  made  her  superiority  be  pardoned 
among  her  companions.  Still  there  was  notice  taken  of  some 
peculiarities,  exaggerated  perhaps  by  envy,  which  seemed  to 
draw  a  mystical  distinction  between  the  beautiful  Hermione 
and  the  mere  mortals  with  whom  she  lived  and  conversed. 

In  the  merry  dance  she  was  so  unrivalled  in  lightness  and 
agility,  that  her  performance  seemed  that  of  an  aerial  being. 
She  could,  without  suffering  from  her  exertion,  continue  the 
pleasure  till  she  had  tired  out  the  most  active  revellers ;  and 
even  the  young  Duke  of  Hochspringen,  who  was  reckoned  the 
most  indefatigable  at  that  exercise  in  Germany,  having  been 
her  partner  for  half  an  hour,  was  compelled  to  break  off  the 
dance,  and  throw  himself,  totally  exhausted,  on  a  couch, 
exclaiming,  he  had  been  dancing  not  with  a  woman,  but  with 
an  ignis  fatuus. 

Other  whispers  averred  that,  while  she  played  with  her 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  135 

young  companions  in  the  labyrinth  and  mazes  of  the  castle 
gardens  at  hide-and-seek,  or  similar  games  of  activity,  she 
became  animated  with  the  same  supernatural  alertness  which 
was  supposed  to  inspire  her  in  the  dance.  She  appeared 
amongst  her  companions  and  vanished  from  them  with  a 
degree  of  rapidity  which  was  inconceivable ;  and  hedges,  treil- 
lage,  or  such-like  obstructions  were  surmounted  by  her  in  a 
manner  which  the  most  vigilant  eye  could  not  detect ;  for,  after 
being  observed  on  the  side  of  the  barrier  at  one  instant,  in 
another  she  was  beheld  close  beside  the  spectator. 

In  such  moments,  when  her  eyes  sparkled,  her  cheeks 
reddened,  and  her  whole  frame  became  animated,  it  was  pre- 
tended that  the  opal  clasp  amid  her  tresses,  the  ornament 
which  she  never  laid  aside,  shot  forth  the  little  spark,  or  tongue 
of  flame,  which  it  always  displayed,  with  an  increased  vivacity. 
In  the  same  manner,  if  in  the  half- darkened  hall  the  conversa- 
tion of  Hermione  became  unusually  animated,  it  was  believed 
that  the  jewel  became  brilliant,  and  even  displayed  a  twinkling 
and  flashing  gleam  which  seemed  to  be  emitted  by  the  gem 
itself,  and  not  produced  in  the  usual  manner,  by  the  reflection 
of  some  external  light.  Her  maidens  were  also  heard  to  sur- 
mise that,  when  their  mistress  was  agitated  by  any  hasty  or 
brief  resentment  (the  only  weakness  of  temper  which  she  was 
sometimes  observed  to  display),  they  could  observe  dark-red 
sparks  flash  from  the  mystic  brooch,  as  if  it  sympathised  with 
the  wearer's  emotions.  The  women  who  attended  on  her 
toilet  farther  reported  that  this  gem  was  never  removed  but 
for  a  few  minutes,  when  the  baroness's  hair  was  combed  out ; 
that  she  was  unusually  pensive  and  silent  during  the  time  it 
was  laid  aside,  and  particularly  apprehensive  when  any  liquid 
was  brought  near  it.  Even  in  the  use  of  holy  water  at  the 
door  of  the  church,  she  was  observed  to  omit  the  sign  of  the 
cross  on  the  forehead,  for  fear,  it  was  supposed,  of  the  water 
touching  the  valued  jewel. 

These  singular  reports  did  not  prevent  the  marriage  of  the 
Baron  of  Arnheim  from  proceeding  as  had  been  arranged.  It 
was  celebrated  in  the  usual  form,  and  with  the  utmost  splen- 
dour, and  the  young  couple  seemed  to  commence  a  life  of 
happiness  rarely  to  be  found  on  earth.  In  the  course  of  twelve 
months,  the  lovely  baroness  presented  her  husband  with  a 
daughter,  which  was  to  be  christened  Sybilla,  after  the  count's 
mother.  As  the  health  of  the  child  was  excellent,  the  cere- 
jnony  was  postponed  till  the  recovery  of  the  mother  fi-om  her 


136  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

confinement ;  many  were  invited  to  be  present  on  the  occasion, 
and  the  castle  was  thronged  with  company. 

It  happened,  that  amongst  the  guests  was  an  old  lady, 
notorious  for  playing  in  private  society  the  part  of  a  malicious 
fairy  in  a  minstrel's  tale.  This  was  the  Baroness  of  Steinfeldt, 
famous  in  the  neighbourhood  for  her  insatiable  curiosity  and 
overweening  pride.  She  had  not  been  many  days  in  the  castle 
ere,  by  the  aid  of  a  female  attendant,  who  acted  as  an  intelli- 
gencer, she  had  made  herself  mistress  of  all  that  was  heard, 
said,  or  suspected  concerning  the  peculiarities  of  the  Baroness 
Hermione.  It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  day  appointed  for 
the  christening,  while  the  whole  company  were  assembled  in 
the  hall,  and  waiting  till  the  baroness  should  appear,  to  pass 
with  them  to  the  chapel,  that  there  arose  between  the  censori- 
ous and  haughty  dame  whom  we  have  just  mentioned  and  the 
Countess  Waldstetten  a  violent  discussion  concerning  some 
point  of  disputed  precedence.  It  was  referred  to  the  Baron 
von  Arnheim,  who  decided  in  favour  of  the  countess.  Madame 
de  Steinfeldt  instantly  ordered  her  palfrey  to  be  prepared,  and 
her  attendants  to  mount. 

'  I  leave  this  place,'  she  said,  '  which  a  good  Christian  ought 
never  to  have  entered  —  I  leave  a  house  of  which  the  master  is 
a  sorcerer,  the  mistress  a  demon  who  dares  not  cross  her  brow 
with  holy  water,  and  their  trencher  companion  one  who  for  a 
wretched  pittance  is  willing  to  act  as  match-maker  between 
a  wizard  and  an  incarnate  fiend.' 

She  then  departed  with  rage  in  her  countenance  and  spite 
in  her  heart. 

The  Baron  of  Arnheim  then  stepped  forward,  and  demanded 
of  the  knights  and  gentlemen  around  if  there  were  any  among 
them  who  would  dare  to  make  good  with  his  sword  the  in- 
famous falsehoods  thrown  upon  himself,  his  spouse,  and  his 
kinswoman. 

There  was  a  general  answer,  utterly  refusing  to  defend  the 
Baroness  of  Steinfeldt's  words  in  so  bad  a  cause,  and  universally 
testifying  the  belief  of  the  company  that  she  spoke  in  the  spirit 
of  calumny  and  falsehood. 

'Then  let  that  lie  fall  to  the  ground  which  no  man  of 
courage  will  hold  up,'  said  the  Baron  of  Arnheim ;  '  only,  all 
who  are  here  this  morning  shall  be  satisfied  whether  the 
Baroness  Hermione  doth  or  doth  not  share  the  rites  of 
Christianity.' 

The  Countess  of  Waldstetten  made  anxious  signs  to  him 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  137 

while  he  spoke  thus;  and  when  the  crowd  permitted  her  to 
approach  near  him,  she  was  heard  to  whisper,  '  0,  be  not  rash ; 
try  no  experiment.  There  is  something  mysterious  about  that 
opal  talisman ;  be  prudent,  and  let  the  matter  pass  by.' 

The  baron,  who  was  in  a  more  towering  passion  than  well 
became  the  wisdom  to  which  he  made  pretence  —  although  it 
will  be  perhaps  allowed  that  an  affront  so  public,  and  in  such  a 
time  and  place,  was  enough  to  shake  the  prudence  of  the  most 
staid,  and  the  philosophy  of  the  most  wise  —  answered  sternly 
and  briefly,  '  Are  you,  too,  such  a  fool  ? '  and  retained  his 
purpose. 

The  Baroness  of  Arnheim  at  this  moment  entered  the  hall, 
looking  just  so  pale  from  her  late  confinement  as  to  render 
her  lovely  countenance  more  interesting,  if  less  animated,  than 
usual.  Having  paid  her  compliments  to  the  assembled  com- 
pany, with  the  most  graceful  and  condescending  attention,  she 
was  beginning  to  inquire  why  Madame  de  Steinfeldt  was  not 
present,  when  her  husband  made  the  signal  for  the  company  to 
move  forward  to  the  chapel,  and  lent  the  baroness  his  arm  to 
bring  up  the  rear.  The  chapel  was  nearly  filled  by  the  splendid 
company,  and  all  eyes  were  bent  on  their  host  and  hostess, 
as  they  entered  the  place  of  devotion  immediately  after  four 
young  ladies,  who  supported  the  infant  babe  in  a  light  and 
beautiful  litter. 

As  they  passed  the  threshold,  the  baron  dipt  his  finger  in 
the  font-stone,  and  ofi'ered  holy  water  to  his  lady,  who  accepted 
it,  as  usual,  by  touching  his  kiiger  with  her  own.  But  then, 
as  if  to  confute  the  calumnies  of  the  malevolent  lady  of  Stein- 
feldt, with  an  air  of  sportive  familiarity  which  was  rather  un- 
warranted by  the  time  and  place,  he  flirted  on  her  beautiful 
forehead  a  drop  or  two  of  the  moisture  which  remained  on  his 
own  hand.  The  opal,  on  which  one  of  these  drops  had  lighted, 
shot  out  a  brilliant  spark  like  a  falling  star,  and  became  the 
instant  afterwards  lightless  and  colourless  as  a  common  pebble, 
while  the  beautiful  baroness  sunk  on  the  floor  of  the  chapel 
with  a  deep  sigh  of  pain.  All  crowded  around  her  in  dismay. 
The  unfortunate  Hermione  was  raised  from  the  ground,  and 
conveyed  to  her  chamber ;  and  so  much  did  her  countenance 
and  pulse  alter,  within  the  short  time  necessary  to  do  this,  that 
those  who  looked  upon  her  pronounced  her  a  dying  womari 
She  was  no  sooner  in  her  own  apartment  than  she  requested  to 
be  left  alone  with  her  husband.  He  remained  an  hour  in  the 
room,  and  when  he  came  out  he  locked  and  double  locked 


138  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

the  door  behind  him.  He  then  betook  himself  to  the  chapel, 
and  remained  there  for  an  hour  or  more,  prostrated  before  the 
altar. 

In  the  meantime,  most  of  the  guests  had  dispersed  in  dis- 
may ;  though  some  abode  out  of  courtesy  or  curiosity.  There 
was  a  general  sense  of  impropriety  in  suffering  the  door  of  the 
sick  lady's  apartment  to  remain  locked ;  but,  alarmed  at  the 
whole  circumstances  of  her  illness,  it  was  some  time  ere  any 
one  dared  disturb  the  devotions  of  the  baron.  At  length 
medical  aid  arrived,  and  the  Countess  of  Waldstetten  took 
upon  her  to  demand  the  key.  She  spoke  more  than  once  to  a 
man  who  seemed  incapable  of  hearing,  at  least  of  understand- 
ing, what  she  said.  At  length  he  gave  her  the  key,  and  added 
sternly,  as  he  did  so,  that  all  aid  was  unavailing,  and  that  it 
was  his  pleasure  that  all  strangers  should  leave  the  castle. 
There  were  few  who  inclined  to  stay,  when,  upon  opening  the 
door  of  the  chamber  in  which  the  baroness  had  been  deposited 
little  more  than  two  hours  before,  no  traces  of  her  could  be 
discovered,  unless  that  there  was  about  a  handful  of  light  grey 
ashes,  like  such  as  might  have  been  produced  by  burning  fine 
paper,  found  on  the  bed  where  she  had  been  laid.  A  solemn 
funeral  was  nevertheless  performed,  with  masses  and  all  other 
spiritual  rites,  for  the  soul  of  the  high  and  noble  Lady  Her- 
mione  of  Arnheim ;  and  it  was  exactly  on  that  same  day  three 
years  that  the  baron  himself  was  laid  in  the  grave  of  the  same 
chapel  of  Arnheim,  with  sword,  shield,  and  helmet,  as  the  last 
male  of  his  family. 

Here  the  Swiss  paused,  for  they  were  approaching  the  bridge 
of  the  castle  of  Graffslust. 


CHAPTER  XII 

Believe  me,  sir, 
It  carries  a  rare  form  ;  but  't  is  a  spirit. 

The  Tempest. 

THEI  E  was  a  short  silence  after  the  Bernese  had  con- 
clutled  his  singular  tale.  Arthur  Philipson's  attention 
had  been  gradually  and  intensely  attracted  by  a  Story 
which  was  too  much  in  unison  with  the  received  ideas  of  the  age 
to  be  encountered  by  the  unhesitating  incredulity  with  which 
it  must  have  been  heard  in  later  and  more  enlightened  times. 

He  was  also  considerably  struck  by  the  manner  in  which  it 
had  been  told  by  the  narrator,  whom  he  had  hitherto  only 
regarded  in  the  light  of  a  rude  huntsman  or  soldier ;  whereas 
he  now  allowed  Donnerhugel  credit  for  a  more  extensive 
acquaintance  with  the  general  manners  of  the  world  than  he 
had  previously  anticipated.  The  Swiss  rose  in  his  opinion  as  a 
man  of  talent,  but  without  making  the  slightest  progress  in  his 
affections.  '  The  swashbuckler,'  he  said  to  himself,  '  has  brains, 
as  well  as  brawn  and  bones,  and  is  fitter  for  the  office  of  com- 
manding others  than  I  formerly  thought  him.'  Then,  turning 
to  his  companion,  he  thanked  him  for  the  tale,  which  had 
shortened  the  way  in  so  interesting  a  manner. 

'And  it  is  from  this  singular  marriage,'  he  continued,  'that 
Anne  of  Geierstein  derives  her  origin  1 ' 

'Her  mother,'  answered  the  Swiss,  'was  Sybilla  of  Arnheim, 
the  infant  at  whose  christening  the  mother  died,  disappeared, 
or  whatever  you  may  list  to  call  it.  The  barony  of  Arnheim, 
being  a  male  fief,  reverted  to  the  Emperor.  The  castle  has 
never  been  inhabited  since  the  death  of  the  last  lord ;  and  has, 
as  I  have  heard,  become  in  some  sort  ruinous.  The  occupa- 
tions of  its  ancient  proprietors,  and,  above  all,  the  catastrophe 
of  its  last  inhabitant,  have  been  thought  to  render  it  no  eligible 
place  of  residence.' 

'  Did  there  appear  anything  preternatural,'  said  the  English- 


140  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

man,  'about  the  young  baroness,  who  married  the  brother  of 
the  Landamman  ? ' 

*So  far  as  I  have  heard,'  replied  Rudolph,  'there  were 
strange  stories.  It  was  said  that  the  nurses,  at  the  dead  of 
night,  have  seen  Hermione,  the  last  baroness  of  Arnheim,  stand 
weeping  by  the  side  of  the  child's  cradle,  and  other  things  to 
the  same  purpose.  But  here  I  speak  from  less  correct  informa- 
tion than  that  from  which  I  drew  my  former  narrative.' 

'  And  since  the  credibility  of  a  story,  not  very  probable  in 
itself,  must  needs  be  granted  or  withheld  according  to  the 
evidence  on  which  it  is  given,  may  I  ask  you,'  said  Arthur,  'to 
tell  me  what  is  the  authority  on  which  you  have  so  much 
reliance  1 ' 

'Willingly,'  answered  the  Swiss.  'Know  that  Theodore 
Donnerhugel,  the  favourite  page  of  the  last  Baron  of  Arnheim, 
was  my  father's  brother.  Upon  his  master's  death,  he  retired 
to  his  native  town  of  Berne,  and  most  of  his  time  was  employed 
in  training  me  up  to  arms  and  martial  exercises,  as  well  accord- 
ing to  the  fashion  of  Germany  as  of  Switzerland,  for  he  was 
master  of  all.  He  witnessed  with  his  own  eyes,  and  heard 
with  his  own  ears,  great  part  of  the  melancholy  and  mysterious 
events  which  I  have  detailed  to  you.  Should  you  ever  visit 
Berne,  you  may  see  the  good  old  man.' 

'You  think,  then,'  said  Arthur,  'that  the  appearance  which 
I  have  this  night  seen  is  connected  with  the  mysterious  mar- 
riage of  Anne  of  Geierstein's  grandfather  1 ' 

'  Nay,'  replied  Rudolph,  'think  not  that  I  can  lay  down  any 
positive  explanation  of  a  thing  so  strange.  I  can  only  say 
that,  unless  I  did  you  the  injustice  to  disbelieve  your  testimony 
respecting  the  apparition  of  this  evening,  I  know  no  way  to 
account  for  it,  except  by  remembering  that  there  is  a  portion 
of  the  young  lady's  blood  which  is  thought  not  to  be  derived 
from  the  race  of  Adam,  but  more  or  less  directly  from  one  of 
those  elementary  spirits  which  have  been  talked  of  both  in 
ancient  and  modern  times.  But  I  may  be  mistaken.  We  will 
see  how  she  bears  herself  in  the  morning,  and  whether  she  carries 
in  her  looks  the  weariness  and  paleness  of  a  midnight  watcher. 
If  she  doth  not,  we  may  be  authorised  in  thinking  either  that 
your  eyes  have  strangely  deceived  you  or  that  they  have  been 
cheated  by  some  spectral  appearance  which  is  not  of  this  world.' 

To  this  the  young  Englishman  attempted  no  reply,  nor  was 
there  time  for  any;  for  they  were  immediately  afterwards 
challenged  by  the  sentinel  from  the  drawbridge. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  141 

The  question  *  Who  goes  there  1 '  was  twice  satisfactorily 
answered  before  Sigismund  would  admit  the  patrol  to  cross 
the  drawbridge. 

'Ass  and  mule  that  thou  art,'  said  Rudolph,  'what  was  the 
meaning  of  thy  delay  1 ' 

'  Ass  and  mule  thyself,  hauptman ! '  said  the  Swiss,  in 
answer  to  this  objurgation.  'I  have  been  surprised  by  a 
goblin  on  my  post  once  to-night  already,  and  I  have  got  so 
much  experience  upon  that  matter,  that  I  will  not  easily  be 
caught  a  second  time.' 

'  What  goblin,  thou  fool,'  said  Donnerhugel,  '  would  be  idle 
enough  to  play  his  gambols  at  the  expense  of  so  very  poor  an 
animal  as  thou  art  ? ' 

'  Thou  art  as  cross  as  my  father,  hauptman,'  replied  Sigis- 
mund, '  who  cries  fool  and  blockhead  at  every  word  I  speak ; 
and  yet  I  have  lips,  teeth,  and  tongue  to  speak  with,  just  like 
other  folk.' 

'  We  will  not  contest  the  matter,  Sigismund,'  said  Rudolph. 
*  It  is  clear  that,  if  thou  dost  differ  from  other  people,  it  is  in  a 
particular  which  thou  canst  be  hardly  expected  to  find  out  or 
acknowledge.  But  what,  in  the  name  of  simplicity,  is  it  which 
hath  alarmed  thee  on  thy  post  ? ' 

'  Marry,  thus  it  was,  hauptman,'  returned  Sigismund  Bieder- 
man.  '  I  was  something  tired,  you  see,  with  looking  up  at  the 
broad  moon,  and  thinking  what  in  the  universe  it  could  be 
made  of,  and  how  we  came  to  see  it  just  as  well  here  as  at 
home,  this  place  being  so  many  miles  from  Geierstein.  I  was 
tired,  I  say,  of  this  and  other  perplexing  thoughts,  so  I  drew 
my  fur  cap  down  over  my  ears,  for  I  promise  you  the  wind 
blew  shrill ;  and  then  I  planted  myself  firm  on  my  feet,  with 
one  of  my  legs  a  little  advanced,  and  both  my  hands  resting 
on  my  partizan,  which  I  placed  upright  before  me  to  rest  upon ; 
and  so  I  shut  mine  eyes.' 

'  Shut  thine  eyes,  Sigismund,  and  thou  upon  thy  watch ! ' 
exclaimed  Donnerhugel. 

'Care  not  thou  for  that,'  answered  Sigismund,  *I  kept  my 
ears  open.  And  yet  it  was  to  little  purpose,  for  something 
came  upon  the  bridge  with  a  step  as  stealthy  as  that  of  a 
mouse.  I  looked  up  with  a  start  at  the  moment  it  was 
opposite  to  me,  and  when  I  looked  up  —  whom  think  you 
I  saw?' 

'Some  fool  like  thyself,'  said  Rudolph,  at  the  same  time 
pressing  Philipson's  foot  to  make  him  attend  to  the  answer  —  a 


142  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

hint  which  was  little  necessary,  since  he  waited  for  it  in  the 
utmost  agitation.     Out  it  came  at  last. 

*  By  St.  Mark,  it  was  our  own  Anne  of  Geierstein  ! ' 

*  It  is  impossible ! '  replied  the  Bernese. 

*I  should  have  said  so  too,'  quoth  Sigismund,  'for  I  had 
peeped  into  her  bedroom  before  she  went  thither,  and  it  was 
so  bedizened  that  a  queen  or  a  princess  might  have  slept  in  it ; 
and  why  should  the  wench  get  out  of  her  good  quarters,  with 
all  her  friends  about  her  to  guard  her,  and  go  out  to  wander  in 
the  forest  1 ' 

'  Maybe,'  said  Rudolph,  '  she  only  looked  from  the  bridge  to 
see  how  the  night  waned.' 

'No,'  said  Sigismund;  'she  was  returning  from  the  forest. 
I  saw  her  when  she  reached  the  end  of  the  bridge,  and  thought 
of  striking  at  her,  conceiving  it  to  be  the  devil  in  her  likeness. 
But  I  remembered  my  halberd  is  no  birch  switch  to  chastise 
boys  and  girls  with ;  and  had  I  done  Anne  any  harm,  you  would 
all  have  been  angry  with  me,  and,  to  speak  truth,  I  should  have 
been  ill  pleased  with  myself;  for  although  she  doth  make  a 
jest  of  me  now  and  then,  yet  it  were  a  dull  house  ours  were  we 
to  lose  Anne.' 

*  Ass,'  answered  the  Bernese,  'didst  thou  speak  to  this  form, 
or  goblin  as  you  call  it  ? ' 

'  Indeed  I  did  not.  Captain  Wiseacre.  My  father  is  ever 
angry  with  me  when  I  speak  without  thinking,  and  I  could  not 
at  that  particular  moment  think  on  anything  to  the  purpose. 
Neither  was  there  time  to  think,  for  she  passed  me  like  a 
snowflake  upon  a  whirlwind.  I  marched  into  the  castle  after 
her,  however,  calling  on  her  by  name;  so  the  sleepers  were 
awakened,  and  men  flew  to  their  arms,  and  there  was  as  much 
confusion  as  if  Archibald  of  Hagenbach  had  been  among  us 
with  sword  and  pike.  And  who  should  come  out  of  her  little 
bedroom,  as  much  startled  and  as  much  in  a  bustle  as  any  of 
us,  but  Mrs.  Anne  herself!  And  as  she  protested  she  had 
never  left  her  room  that  night,  why  I,  Sigismund  Biederman, 
was  made  to  stand  the  whole  blame,  as  if  I  could  prevent 
people's  ghosts  from  walking.  But  I  told  her  my  mind  when 
I  saw  them  all  so  set  against  me.  "And,  Mistress  Anne," 
quoth  I,  "it 's  well  known  the  kindred  you  come  of;  and,  after 
this  fair  notice,  if  you  send  any  of  your  double-gangers  ^  to  me, 
let  them  put  iron  skull-caps  on  their  heads,  for  I  will  give 
them  the  length  and  weight  of  a  Swiss  halberd,  come  in  what 

^  See  Note  1. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  143 

shape  they  list."  However,  they  all  cried  "Shame  on  me!" 
and  my  father  drove  me  out  again,  with  as  little  remorse  as  if 
I  had  been  the  old  house-dog,  which  had  stolen  in  from  his 
watch  to  the  fireside.' 

The  Bernese  replied,  with  an  air  of  coldness  approaching  to 
contempt,  '  You  have  slept  on  your  watch,  Sigismund,  a  high 
military  offence,  and  you  have  dreamed  while  you  slept.  You 
were  in  good  luck  that  the  Landamman  did  not  suspect  your 
negligence,  or,  instead  of  being  sent  back  to  your  duty  like  a 
lazy  watch-dog,  you  might  have  been  scourged  back  like  a 
faithless  one  to  your  kennel  at  Geierstein,  as  chanced  to  poor 
Ernest  for  a  less  matter.' 

'  Ernest  has  not  yet  gone  back  though,'  said  Sigismund,  *  and 
I  think  he  may  pass  as  far  into  Burgundy  as  we  shall  do  in  this 
journey.  I  pray  you,  however,  hauptman,  to  treat  me  not  dog- 
like, but  as  a  man,  and  send  some  one  to  relieve  me,  instead  of 
prating  here  in  the  cold  night  air.  If  there  be  anything  to  do 
to-morrow,  as  I  well  guess  there  may,  a  mouthful  of  food  and 
a  minute  of  sleep  will  be  but  a  J&tting  preparative,  and  I  have 
stood  watch  here  these  two  mortal  hours.' 

"With  that  the  young  giant  yawned  portentously,  as  if  to 
enforce  the  reasons  of  his  appeal. 

'  A  mouthful  and  a  minute  ! '  said  Rudolph  — '  a  roasted  ox  and 
a  lethargy  like  that  of  the  Seven  Sleepers  would  scarce  restore  you 
to  the  use  of  your  refreshed  and  waking  senses.  But  I  am  your 
friend,  Sigismund,  and  you  are  secure  in  my  favourable  report ; 
you  shall  be  instantly  relieved,  that  you  may  sleep,  if  it  be  pos- 
sible, without  disturbances  from  dreams.  Pass  on,  young  men 
(addressing  the  others,  who  by  this  time  had  come  up),  and 
go  to  your  rest ;  Arthur  of  England  and  I  will  report  to  the 
Landamman  and  the  banneret  the  account  of  our  patrol.' 

The  patrol  accordingly  entered  the  castle,  and  were  soon 
heard  joining  their  slumbering  companions.  Rudolph  Donner- 
hugel  seized  Arthur's  arm,  and,  while  they  went  towards  the 
hall,  whispered  in  his  ear  — 

*  These  are  strange  passages  !  How  think  you  we  should 
report  them  to  the  deputation  ? ' 

'  That  I  must  refer  to  yourself,'  said  Arthur  :  '  you  are  the 
captain  of  our  watch.  I  have  done  my  duty  in  telling  you 
what  I  saw  —  or  thought  I  saw;  it  is  for  you  to  judge  how  far 
it  is  fitting  to  communicate  it  to  the  Landamman  ;  only,  as  it 
concerns  the  honour  of  his  family,  to  his  ear  alone  I  think  it 
should  be  confided.' 


IM  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*I  see  no  occasion  for  that,'  said  the  Bernese,  hastily;  *it 
cannot  affect  or  interest  our  general  safety.  But  I  may  take 
occasion  hereafter  to  speak  with  Anne  on  this  subject' 

This  latter  hint  gave  as  much  pain  to  Arthur  as  the  general 
proposal  of  silence  on  an  affair  so  delicate  had  afforded  him 
satisfaction.  But  his  uneasiness  was  of  a  kind  which  he  felt  it 
necessary  to  suppress,  and  he  therefore  replied  with  as  much 
composure  as  he  could  assume  — 

'You  will  act,  sir  hauptman,  as  your  sense  of  duty  and 
delicacy  shall  dictate.  For  me,  I  shall  be  silent  on  what  you 
call  the  strange  passages  of  the  night,  rendered  doubly  wonder- 
ful by  the  report  of  Sigismund  Biederman.' 

'  And  also  on  what  you  have  seen  and  heard  concerning  our 
auxiliaries  of  Berne  ? '  said  Rudolph. 

'  On  that  I  shall  certainly  be  silent,'  said  Arthur ;  '  unless 
thus  far,  that  I  mean  to  communicate  to  my  father  the  risk  of 
his  baggage  being  liable  to  examination  and  seizure  at  La 
Ferette.' 

'  It  is  needless,'  said  Rudolph  ;  '  I  will  answer  with  head  and 
hand  for  the  safety  of  everything  belonging  to  him.' 

'  I  thank  you  in  his  name,'  said  Arthur  ;  *  but  we  are  peace- 
ful travellers,  to  whom  it  must  be  much  more  desirable  to  avoid 
a  broil  than  to  give  occasion  for  one,  even  when  secure  of 
coming  out  of  it  triumphantly.' 

'  These  are  the  sentiments  of  a  merchant,  but  not  of  a  soldier,' 
said  Rudolph,  in  a  cold  and  displeased  tone ;  '  but  the  matter  is 
your  own,  and  you  must  act  in  it  as  you  think  best.  Only  re- 
member, if  you  go  to  La  Ferette  without  our  assistance,  you 
hazard  both  goods  and  life.' 

They  entered,  as  he  spoke,  the  apartment  of  their  fellow- 
travellers.  The  companions  of  their  patrol  had  already  laid 
themselves  down  amongst  their  sleeping  comrades  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  room.  The  Landamman  and  the  bannerman  of 
Berne  heard  Donnerhugel  make  a  report  that  his  patrol,  both 
before  and  after  midnight,  had  been  made  in  safety,  and  with- 
out any  encounter  which  expressed  either  danger  or  suspicion. 
The  Bernese  then  wrapped  him  in  his  cloak,  and,  lying  down 
on  the  straw,  with  that  happy  indifference  to  accommodation, 
and  promptitude  to  seize  the  moment  of  repose,  which  is 
acquired  by  a  life  of  vigilance  and  hardship,  was  in  a  few 
minutes  fast  asleep. 

Arthur  remained  on  foot  but  a  little  longer,  to  dart  an 
earnest  look  on  the  door  of  Anne  of  Geierstein's  apartment,  and 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  145 

to  reflect  on  the  wonderful  occurrences  of  the  evening.  But  they 
formed  a  chaotic  mystery,  for  which  he  could  see  no  clue,  and 
the  necessity  of  holding  instant  communication  with  his  father 
compelled  him  forcibly  to  turn  his  thoughts  in  that  direction. 
He  was  obliged  to  observe  caution  and  secrecy  in  accomplish- 
ing his  purpose.  For  this  he  laid  himself  down  beside  his 
parent,  whose  couch,  with  the  hospitality  which  he  had  experi- 
enced from  the  beginning  of  his  intercourse  with  the  kind- 
hearted  Swiss,  had  been  arranged  in  what  was  thought  the 
most  convenient  place  of  the  apartment,  and  somewhat  apart 
from  all  others.  He  slept  sound,  but  awoke  at  the  touch  of 
his  son,  who  whispered  to  him  in  English,  for  the  greater  pre- 
caution, that  he  had  important  tidings  for  his  private  ear. 

'An  attack  on  our  post?'  said  the  elder  Philipson;  'must 
we  take  to  our  weapons?' 

'Not  now,'  said  Arthur;  'and  I  pray  of  you  not  to  rise  or 
make  alarm  —  this  matter  concerns  us  alone.' 

' Tell  it  instantly,  my  son,'  replied  his  father;  'you  speak  to 
one  too  much  used  to  danger  to  be  startled  at  it.' 

'  It  is  a  case  for  your  wisdom  to  consider,'  said  Arthur.  '  I 
had  information,  while  upon  the  patrol,  that  the  governor  of 
La  Ferette  will  unquestionably  seize  upon  your  baggage  and 
merchandise,  under  pretext  of  levying  dues  claimed  by  the 
Duke  of  Burgundy.  I  have  also  been  informed  that  our  escort 
of  Swiss  youth  are  determined  to  resist  this  exaction,  and  con- 
ceive themselves  possessed  of  the  numbers  and  means  sufficient 
to  do  so  successfully.' 

'  By  St.  George,  that  must  not  be  ! '  said  the  elder  Philipson ; 
'  it  would  be  an  evil  requital  to  the  true-hearted  Landamman 
to  give  the  fiery  Duke  a  pretext  for  that  war  which  the  excellent 
old  man  is  so  anxiously  desirous  to  avoid,  if  it  be  possible.  Any 
exactions,  however  unreasonable,  I  will  gladly  pay.  But  to 
have  my  papers  seized  on  were  utter  ruin,  I  partly  feared 
this,  and  it  made  me  unwilling  to  join  myself  to  the  Landam- 
man's  party.  We  must  now  break  off  from  it.  This  rapacious 
governor  will  not  surely  lay  hands  on  the  deputation,  which 
seeks  his  master's  court  under  protection  of  the  law  of  nations ; 
but  I  can  easily  see  how  he  might  make  our  presence  with 
them  a  pretext  for  quarrel,  which  will  equally  suit  his  own 
avaricious  spirit  and  the  humour  of  these  fiery  young  men,  who 
are  seeking  for  matter  of  offence.  This  shall  not  be  taken  for 
our  sake.  "We  will  separate  ourselves  from  the  deputies,  and 
remain  behind  till  they  are  passed  on.  If  this  De  Hagenbach 
VOL.  xxm — 10 


146  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

be  not  the  most  unreasonable  of  men,  I  will  find  a  way  uo  con- 
tent him  so  far  as  we  are  individually  concerned.  Meanwhile, 
I  will  instantly  wake  the  Landamman,'  he  said,  'and  acquaint 
him  with  our  purpose.' 

This  was  immediately  done,  for  Philipson  was  not  slow  in 
the  execution  of  his  resolutions.  In  a  minute  he  was  standing 
by  the  side  of  Arnold  Biederman,  who,  raised  on  his  elbow,  was 
listening  to  his  communication,  while  over  the  shoulder  of  the 
Landamman  rose  the  head  and  long  beard  of  the  deputy  from 
Schwytz,  his  large  clear  blue  eyes  gleaming  from  beneath  a  fur 
cap,  bent  on  the  Englishman's  face,  but  stealing  a  glance  aside 
now  and  then  to  mark  the  impression  which  what  was  said 
made  upon  his  colleague. 

'Good  friend  and  host,'  said  the  elder  Philipson,  'we  have 
heard  for  a  certainty  that  our  poor  merchandise  will  be  sub- 
jected to  taxation  or  seizure  on  our  passage  through  La  Ferette, 
and  I  would  gladly  avoid  all  cause  of  quarrel,  for  your  sake  as 
well  as  our  own.' 

'You  do  not  doubt  that  we  can  and  will  protect  you?' 
replied  the  Landamman.  'I  tell  you.  Englishman,  that  the 
guest  of  a  Swiss  is  as  safe  by  his  side  as  an  eaglet  under  the 
wing  of  its  dam ;  and  to  leave  us  because  danger  approaches  is 
but  a  poor  compliment  to  our  courage  or  constancy.  I  am 
desirous  of  peace;  but  not  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  himself 
should  wrong  a  guest  of  mine,  so  far  as  my  power  might  pre- 
vent it.' 

At  this  the  deputy  from  Schw3rtz  clenched  a  fist  like  a  bull's 
knuckles,  and  showed  it  above  the  shoulders  of  his  friend. 

'  It  is  even  to  avoid  this,  my  worthy  host,'  replied  Philipson, 

*  that  I  intend  to  separate  from  your  friendly  company  sooner 
than  I  desire  or  purposed.  Bethink  you,  my  brave  and  worthy 
host,  you  are  an  ambassador  seeking  a  national  peace,  I  a  trader 
seeking  private  gain.  War,  or  quarrels  which  may  cause  war, 
are  alike  ruinous  to  your  purpose  and  mine.  I  confess  to  you 
frankly  that  I  am  willing  and  able  to  pay  a  large  ransom,  and 
when  you  are  departed  I  will  negotiate  for  the  amount.  I  will 
abide  in  the  town  of  Bale  till  I  have  made  fair  terms  with 
Archibald  de  Hagenbach ;  and  even  if  he  is  the  avaricious 
extortioner  you  describe  him,  he  will  be  somewhat  moderate 
with  me  rather  than  run  the  risk  of  losing  his  booty  entirely, 
by  my  turning  back  or  taking  another  route.' 

'You  speak  wisely,  sir  Englishman,'  said  the  Landamman; 

*  and  I  thank  you  for  recalling  my  duty  to  my  remembrance. 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  147 

But  you  must  not,  nevertheless,  be  exposed  to  danger.  So 
soon  as  we  move  forward,  the  country  will  be  again  open  to 
the  devastations  of  the  Burgundian  riders  and  lanzlmechts, 
who  will  sweep  the  roads  in  every  direction.  The  people  of 
B4le  are  unhappily  too  timorous  to  protect  you  :  they  would 
yield  you  up  upon  the  governor's  first  hint ;  and  for  justice  or 
lenity,  you  might  as  well  expect  it  in  Hell  as  from  Hagenbach.' 

'There  are  conjurations,  it  is  said,  that  can  make  Hell  itself 
tremble,'  said  Philipson ;  '  and  I  have  means  to  propitiate  even 
this  De  Hagenbach,  providing  I  can  get  to  private  speech  with 
him.  But  I  own  I  can  expect  nothing  from  his  wild  riders  but 
to  be  put  to  death  for  the  value  of  my  cloak.' 

'  If  that  be  the  case,'  said  the  Landamman,  '  and  if  you  must 
needs  separate  from  us,  for  which  I  deny  not  that  you  have 
alleged  wise  and  worthy  reasons,  wherefore  should  you  not  leave 
Graffslust  two  hours  before  us  ?  The  roads  will  be  safe,  as  our 
escort  is  expected ;  and  you  will  probably,  if  you  travel  early, 
find  De  Hagenbach  sober,  and  as  capable  as  he  ever  is  of  hear- 
ing reason  —  that  is^  of  perceiving  his  own  interest.  But,  after 
his  breakfast  is  washed  down  with  Rhine  wein^  which  he  drinks 
every  morning  before  he  hears  mass,  bis  fury  blinds  even  his 
avarice.' 

'All  I  want,  in  order  to  execute  this  scheme,'  said  Philipson, 
*  is  the  loan  of  a  mule  to  carry  my  valise,  which  is  packed  up 
with  your  baggage.' 

'  Take  the  she-mule,'  said  the  Landamman ;  '  she  belongs  to 
my  brother  here  from  Schwytz :  he  will  gladly  bestow  her  on 
thee.' 

'  If  she  were  worth  twenty  crowns,  and  my  comrade  Arnold 
desired  me  to  do  so,'  said  the  old  whitebeard. 

*  I  will  accept  her  as  a  loan  with  gratitude,'  said  the  English- 
man. '  But  how  can  you  dispense  with  the  use  of  the  creature  % 
You  have  only  one  lefb.'^ 

'  "We  can  easily  supply  our  want  from  BMe,'  said  the  Lan- 
damman. 'Nay,  we  can  make  this  little  delay  serve  your 
purpose,  sir  Englishman.  I  named  for  our  time  of  departure 
the  first  hour  after  daybreak ;  we  will  postpone  it  to  the  second 
hour,  which  will  give  us  enough  of  time  to  get  a  horse  or  mule, 
and  you,  sir  Philipson,  space  to  reach  La  Ferette,  where  I  trust 
you  will  have  achieved  your  business  with  De  Hagenbach  to 
your  contentment,  and  will  join  company  again  with  us  as  we 
travel  through  Burgundy.' 

'  If  our  mutual  objects  will  permit  our  travelling  together, 


148  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

worthy  Landamman,'  answered  the  merchant,  'I  shall  esteem 
myself  most  happy  in  becoming  the  partner  of  your  journey. 
And  now  resume  the  repose  which  I  have  interrupted.' 

'  God  bless  you,  wise  and  true-hearted  man,'  said  the  Lan- 
damman, rising  and  embracing  the  Englishman.  '  Should  we 
never  meet  again,  1  will  still  remember  the  merchant  who 
neglected  thoughts  of  gain  that  he  might  keep  the  path  of 
wisdom  and  rectitude.  I  know  not  another  who  would  not 
have  risked  the  shedding  a  lake  of  blood  to  save  five  ounces  of 
gold.  Farewell  thou  too,  gallant  young  man.  Thou  hast 
learned  among  us  to  keep  thy  foot  firm  while  on  the  edge  of  a 
Helvetian  crag,  but  none  can  teach  thee  so  well  as  thy  father 
to  keep  an  upright  path  among  the  morasses  and  precipices  of 
human  life.' 

He  then  embraced  and  took  a  kind  farewell  of  his  friends, 
in  which,  as  usual,  he  was  imitated  by  his  friend  of  Schwytz, 
who  swept  with  his  long  beard  the  right  and  leffc  cheeks  of 
both  the  Englishmen,  and  again  made  them  heartily  welcome 
to  the  use  of  his  mule.  All  then  once  more  composed  them- 
selves to  rest  for  the  space  which  remained  before  the  appear- 
ance of  the  autumnal  dawn. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

The  enmity  and  discord,  which  of  late 
Spruiig  from  the  rancorous  outrage  of  your  duke 
To  merchants,  our  well-dealing  countrymen, 
Who,  wanting  gilders  to  redeem  their  lives, 
Have  seal'd  his  rigorous  statutes  with  their  bloods, 
Excludes  all  pity  from  our  threat' ning  looks. 

Comedy  of  Errors. 

THE  dawn  had  scarce  begun  to  touch  the  distant  hori- 
zon when  Arthur  Philipson  was  on  foot  to  prepare  for 
his  father's  departure  and  his  own,  which,  as  arranged 
on  the  preceding  night,  was  to  take  place  two  hours  before  the 
Landamman  and  his  attendants  proposed  to  leave  the  ruinous 
castle  of  Graffslust.  It  was  no  difficult  matter  for  him  to  sep- 
arate the  neatly  arranged  packages  which  contained  his  father's 
effects  from  the  clumsy  bundles  in  which  the  baggage  of  the 
Swiss  was  deposited.  The  one  set  of  mails  was  made  up  with 
the  neatness  of  men  accustomed  to  long  and  perilous  journeys ; 
the  other,  with  the  rude  carelessness  of  those  who  rarely  left 
their  home,  and  who  were  altogether  inexperienced. 

A  servant  of  the  Landamman  assisted  Arthur  in  this  task, 
and  in  placing  his  father's  baggage  on  the  mule  belonging  to 
the  bearded  deputy  from  Schwytz.  From  this  man  also  he 
received  instructions  concerning  the  road  from  Graffslust  to 
Brisach  (the  chief  citadel  of  La  Ferette),  which  was  too  plain 
and  direct  to  render  it  likely  that  they  should  incur  any  risk 
of  losing  their  way,  as  had  befallen  them  when  travelling  on 
the  Swiss  mountains.  Everything  being  now  prepared  for 
their  departure,  the  young  Englishman  awakened  his  father 
and  acquainted  him  that  all  was  ready.  He  then  retired 
towards  the  chimney,  while  his  father,  according  to  his  daily 
custom,  repeated  the  prayer  of  St.  Julian,  the  patron  of 
travellers,  and  adjusted  his  dress  for  the  journey. 

It  will  not  be  wondered  at  that,  while  the  father  went 
through  his  devotions  and  equipped  himself  for  travel,  Arthur, 


150  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

with  his  heart  full  of  what  he  had  seen  of  Anne  of  Geierstein 
for  some  time  before,  and  his  brain  dizzy  with  the  recollection 
of  the  incidents  of  the  preceding  night,  should  have  kept  his 
eyes  riveted  on  the  door  of  the  sleeping-apartment  at  which  he 
had  last  seen  that  young  person  disappear ;  that  is,  unless  the 
pale  and  seemingly  fantastic  form  which  had  twice  crossed  him 
so  strangely  should  prove  no  wandering  spirit  of  the  elements, 
but  the  living  substance  of  the  person  whose  appearance  it 
bore.  So  eager  was  his  curiosity  on  this  subject,  that  he 
strained  his  eyes  to  the  utmost,  as  if  it  had  been  possible  for 
them  to  have  penetrated  through  wood  and  walls  into  the 
chamber  of  the  slumbering  maiden,  in  order  to  discover  whether 
her  eye  or  cheek  bore  any  mark  that  she  had  last  night  been  a 
watcher  or  a  wanderer. 

'But  that  was  the  proof  to  which  Rudolph  appealed,'  he 
said,  internally,  '  and  Rudolph  alone  will  have  the  opportunity 
of  remarking  the  result.  Who  knows  what  advantage  my 
communication  may  give  him  in  his  suit  with  yonder  lovely 
creature  1  And  what  must  she  think  of  me,  save  as  one  light 
of  thought  and  loose  of  tongue,  to  whom  nothing  extraordinary 
can  chance  but  he  must  hasten  to  babble  it  into  the  ears  of 
those  who  are  nearest  to  him  at  the  moment  ?  I  would  my 
tongue  had  been  palsied  ere  I  said  a  syllable  to  yonder  proud, 
yet  wily,  prize-fighter !  I  shall  never  see  her  more,  that  is  to  be 
counted  for  certain.  I  shall  never  know  the  true  interpreta- 
tion of  those  mysteries  which  hang  around  her.  But  to  think 
I  may  have  prated  something  tending  to  throw  her  into  the 
power  of  yonder  ferocious  boor  will  be  a  subject  of  remorse  to 
me  while  I  live.' 

Here  he  was  startled  out  of  his  reverie  by  the  voice  of  his 
father.  'Why,  how  now,  boy;  art  thou  waking,  Arthur,  or 
sleeping  on  thy  feet  from  the  fatigue  of  last  night's  service  ? ' 

'  Not  so,  my  father,'  answered  Arthur,  at  once  recollecting 
himself  '  Somewhat  drowsy,  perhaps ;  but  the  fresh  morning 
air  will  soon  put  that  to  flight.' 

Walking  with  precaution  through  the  group  of  sleepers  who 
lay  around,  the  elder  Philipson,  when  they  had  gained  the 
door  of  the  apartment,  turned  back,  and,  looking  on  the  straw 
couch  which  the  large  form  of  the  Landamman,  and  the  silvery 
beard  of  his  constant  companion,  touched  by  the  earliest  beams 
of  light,  distinguished  as  that  of  Arnold  Biederman,  he  muttered 
between  his  lips  an  involuntary  adieu. 

*  Farewell,  mirror  of  ancient  faith  and  integrity  —  farewell, 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  151 

noble  Arnold  —  farewell,  soul  of  truth  and  candour,  to  whom 
cowardice,  selfishness,  and  falsehood  are  alike  unknown ! ' 

'And  farewell,'  thought  his  son,  'to  the  loveliest  and  most 
candid,  yet  most  mysterious,  of  maidens  ! '  But  the  adieu,  as 
may  well  be  believed,  was  not,  like  that  of  his  father,  expressed 
in  words. 

They  were  soon  after  on  the  outside  of  the  gate.  The 
Swiss  domestic  was  liberally  recompensed,  and  charged  with  a 
thousand  kind  words  of  farewell  and  of  remembrance  to  the 
Landamman  from  his  English  guests,  mingled  with  hopes  and 
wishes  that  they  might  soon  meet  again  in  the  Burgundian 
territory.  The  young  man  then  took  the  bridle  of  the  mule, 
and  led  the  animal  forward  on  their  journey  at  an  easy  pace, 
his  father  walking  by  his  side. 

After  a  silence  of  some  minutes,  the  elder  Philipson  ad- 
dressed Arthur.  'I  fear  me,'  he  said,  'we  shall  see  the  worthy 
Landamman  no  more.  The  youths  who  attend  him  are  bent 
upon  taking  offence ;  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  will  not  fail,  I 
fear,  to  give  them  ample  occasion ;  and  the  peace  which  the 
excellent  man  desires  for  the  land  of  his  fathers  will  be 
shipwrecked  ere  they  reach  the  Duke's  presence ;  though,  even 
were  it  otherwise,  how  the  proudest  prince  in  Europe  will 
brook  the  moody  looks  of  burgesses  and  peasants  —  so  will 
Charles  of  Burgundy  term  the  friends  we  have  parted  from  —  is 
a  question  too  easily  answered.  A  war,  fatal  to  the  interests  of 
all  concerned,  save  Louis  of  France,  will  certainly  take  place ; 
and  dreadful  must  be  the  contest  if  the  ranks  of  the  Burgundian 
chivalry  shall  encounter  those  iron  sons  of  the  mountains, 
before  whom  so  many  of  the  Austrian  nobility  have  been 
repeatedly  prostrated.' 

'  I  am  so  much  convinced  of  the  truth  of  what  you  say,  my 
father,'  replied  Arthur,  'that  I  judge  even  this  day  will  not 
pass  over  without  a  breach  of  truce.  I  have  already  put  on 
my  shirt  of  mail,  in  case  we  should  meet  bad  company  betwixt 
Graffslust  and  Brisach ;  and  I  would  to  Heaven  that  you  would 
observe  the  same  precaution.  It  will  not  delay  our  journey ; 
and  I  confess  to  you  that  I,  at  least,  will  travel  with  much 
greater  consciousness  of  safety  should  you  do  so.' 

'I  understand  you,  my  son,'  replied  the  elder  Philipson. 
'But  I  am  a  peaceful  traveller  in  the  Duke  of  Burgundy's 
territories,  and  must  not  willingly  suppose  that,  while  under 
the  shadow  of  his  banner,  I  must  guard  myself  against  banditti, 
as  if  I  were  in  the  wilds  of  Palestine.     As  for  the  authority  of 


152  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

his  officers,  and  the  extent  of  their  exactions,  I  need  not  tell 
you  that  they  are,  in  our  circumstances,  things  to  be  submitted 
to  without  grief  or  grudging.' 

Leaving  the  two  travellers  to  journey  towards  Brisach  at 
their  leisure,  I  must  transport  my  readers  to  the  eastern  gate 
of  that  small  town,  which,  situated  on  an  eminence,  had  a 
commanding  prospect  on  every  side,  but  especially  towards 
Bale.  It  did  not  properly  make  a  part  of  the  dominions  of  the 
Duke  of  Burgundy,  but  had  been  placed  in  his  hands  in  pawn, 
or  in  pledge,  for  the  repayment  of  a  considerable  sum  of  money, 
due  to  Charles  by  the  Emperor  Sigismund  of  Austria,  to  whom 
the  seigniory  of  the  place  belonged  in  property.  But  the  town 
lay  so  conveniently  for  distressing  the  commerce  of  the  Swiss, 
and  inflicting  on  that  people,  whom  he  at  once  hated  and 
despised,  similar  marks  of  his  malevolence,  as  to  encourage  a 
general  opinion  that  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  the  implacable  and 
unreasonable  enemy  of  these  mountaineers,  would  never  listen 
to  any  terms  of  redemption,  however  equitable  or  advantageous, 
which  might  have  the  effect  of  restoring  to  the  Emperor  an 
advanced  post  of  such  consequence  to  the  gratification  of  his 
dislike  as  Brisach. 

The  situation  of  the  little  town  was  in  itself  strong,  but  the 
fortifications  which  surrounded  it  were  barely  sufficient  to 
repel  any  sudden  attack,  and  not  adequate  to  resist  for  any 
length  of  time  a  formal  siege.  The  morning  beams  had  shone 
on  the  spire  of  the  church  for  more  than  an  hour,  when  a  tall, 
thin,  elderly  man,  wrapt  in  a  morning  gown,  over  which  was 
buckled  a  broad  belt,  supporting  on  the  left  side  a  sword,  on 
the  right  a  dagger,  approached  the  barbican  of  the  eastern  gate. 
His  bonnet  displayed  a  feather,  which,  or  the  tail  of  a  fox  in 
lieu  of  it,  was  the  emblem  of  gentle  blood  throughout  all 
Germany,  and  a  badge  highly  prized  by  those  who  had  a  right 
to  wear  it. 

The  small  party  of  soldiers  who  had  kept  watch  there  during 
the  course  of  the  preceding  night,  and  supplied  sentinels  both 
for  ward  and  outlook,  took  arms  on  the  appearance  of  this 
individual,  and  drew  themselves  up  in  the  form  of  a  guard, 
which  receives  with  military  reverence  an  officer  of  importance. 
Archibald  de  Hagenbach's  countenance,  for  it  was  the  governor 
himself,  expressed  that  settled  peevishness  and  ill-temper  which 
characterise  the  morning  hours  of  a  valetudinary  debauchee. 
His  head  throbbed,  his  pulse  was  feverish,  and  his  cheek  was 
pale  —  symptoms  of  his  having  spent  the  last  night,  as  was  his 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  153 

usual  custom,  amid  wine  stoups  and  flagons.  Judging  from  the 
haste  with  which  his  soldiers  fell  into  their  ranks,  and  the  awe 
and  silence  which  reigned  among  them,  it  appeared  that  they 
were  accustomed  to  expect  and  dread  his  ill  humour  on  such 
occasions.  He  glanced  at  them,  accordingly,  an  inquisitive  and 
dissatisfied  look,  as  if  he  sought  something  on  which  to  vent 
his  peevishness,  and  then  asked  for  the  '  loitering  dog  Kilian.' 

Kilian  presently  made  his  appearance  —  a  stout,  hard-favoured 
man-at-arms,  a  Bavarian  by  birth,  and  by  rank  the  personal 
squire  of  the  governor. 

'  What  news  of  the  Swiss  churls,  Kilian  1 '  demanded  Archi- 
bald de  Hagenbach.  'They  should,  by  their  thrifty  habits, 
have  been  on  the  road  two  hours  since.  Have  the  peasant- 
clods  presumed  to  ape  the  manners  of  gentlemen,  and  stuck 
by  the  flask  till  cock-crow  ? ' 

'  By  my  faith,  it  may  well  be,'  answered  Kilian  :  *  the 
burghers  of  B^le  gave  them  full  means  of  carousal.' 

'  How,  Kilian !  They  dared  not  offer  hospitality  to  the 
Swiss  drove  of  bullocks,  after  the  charge  we  sent  them  to 
the  contrary  1 ' 

'  Nay,  the  B4lese  received  them  not  into  the  town,'  replied 
the  squire ;  '  but  I  learned,  by  sure  espial,  that  they  afforded 
them  means  of  quartering  at  Graffslust,  which  was  furnished 
with  many  a  fair  gammon  and  pasty,  to  speak  nought  of  flasks 
of  Rhine  wine,  barrels  of  beer,  and  stoups  of  strong  waters.' 

'The  Balese  shall  answer  this,  Kilian,'  said  the  governor. 
'  Do  they  think  I  am  for  ever  to  be  thrusting  myself  between 
the  Duke  and  his  pleasure  on  their  behalf?  The  fat  porkers 
have  presumed  too  much  since  we  accepted  some  trifling  gifts 
at  their  hands,  more  for  gracing  of  them  than  for  any  advan- 
tage we  could  make  of  their  paltry  donations.  Was  it  not  the 
wine  from  Bale  which  we  were  obliged  to  drink  out  in  pint 
goblets,  lest  it  should  become  sour  before  morning  ? ' 

'  It  was  drunk  out,  and  in  pint  goblets  too,'  said  Kilian  ;  '  so 
much  I  can  well  remember.' 

'Why,  go  to,  then,'  said  the  governor;  'they  shall  know, 
these  beasts  of  Bale,  that  I  hold  myself  no  way  obliged  by  such 
donations  as  these,  and  that  my  remembrance  of  the  wines 
which  I  carouse  rests  no  longer  than  the  headache  which  the 
mixtures  they  drug  me  with  never  fail  of  late  years  to  leave 
behind,  for  the  next  morning's  pastime.' 

'Your  Excellency,'  replied  the  squire,  'will  make  it,  then,  a 
quarrel  between  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  and  the  city  of  Bale, 


154  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

that  they  gave  this  indirect  degree  of  comfort  and  assistance 
to  the  Swiss  deputation  *? ' 

*  Ay,  marry  will  I, '  said  De  Hagenbach,  *  unless  there  be 
wise  men  among  them  who  shall  show  me  good  reasons  for 
protecting  them.  Oh,  the  B^lese  do  not  know  our  noble  Duke, 
nor  the  gift  he  hath  for  chastising  the  gutter-blooded  citizens 
of  a  free  town.  Thou  canst  tell  them,  Kilian,  as  well  as  any 
man,  how  he  dealt  with  the  villains  of  Liege,  when  they  would 
needs  be  pragmatical.' 

*I  will  apprise  them  of  the  matter,'  said  Kilian,  *when 
opportunity  shall  serve,  and  I  trust  I  shall  find  them  in  a 
temper  disposed  to  cultivate  your  honourable  friendship.' 

'  Nay,  if  it  is  the  same  to  them,  it  is  quite  indifferent  to  me, 
Kilian,'  continued  the  governor ;  '  but  methinks  whole  and 
sound  throats  are  worth  some  purchase,  were  it  only  to  swallow 
black  puddings  and  schwarzbier,  to  say  nothing  of  Westphalian 
hams  and  Nierensteiner.  I  say,  a  slashed  throat  is  a  useless 
thing,  Kilian.' 

'  I  will  make  the  fat  citizens  to  understand  their  danger, 
and  the  necessity  of  making  interest,'  answered  Kilian.  '  Sure, 
I  am  not  now  to  learn  how  to  turn  the  ball  into  your  Excel- 
lency's lap.' 

'  You  speak  well,'  said  Sir  Archibald.  '  But  how  chanced  it 
thou  hast  so  little  to  say  to  the  Switzers'  leaguer  ?  I  should 
have  thought  an  old  trooper  like  thee  would  have  made  their 
pinions  flutter  amidst  the  good  cheer  thou  tellest  me  o£'^ 

'  I  might  as  well  have  annoyed  an  angry  hedgehog  with  my 
bare  finger,'  said  Kilian.  'I  surveyed  Graff'slust  myself:  there 
were  sentinels  on  the  castle  walls,  a  sentinel  on  the  bridge, 
besides  a  regular  patrol  of  these  Swiss  fellows  who  kept  strict 
watch.  So  that  there  was  nothing  to  be  done ;  otherwise, 
knowing  your  Excellency's  ancient  quarrel,  I  would  have  had  a 
hit  at  them,  when  they  should  never  have  known  who  hurt  them. 
I  will  tell  you,  however,  fairly,  that  these  churls  are  acquiring 
better  knowledge  in  the  art  of  war  than  the  best  ritter  (knight).' 

'  Well,  they  will  be  the  better  worth  the  looking  after  when 
they  arrive,'  said  De  Hagenbach.  *  They  come  forth  in  state, 
doubtless,  with  all  their  finery,  their  wives'  chains  of  silver, 
their  own  medals,  and  rings  of  lead  and  copper  ?  Ah,  the  base 
hinds,  they  are  unworthy  that  a  man  of  noble  blood  should  ease 
them  of  their  trash  ! ' 

*  There  is  better  ware  among  them,  if  my  intelligence  hath 
not  deceived  me,'  replied  Kilian  ;  '  there  are  merchants ' 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  155 

'Pshaw!  the  packhorses  of  Berne  and  Soleure,'  said  the 
governor,  'with  their  paltry  lumber,  cloth  too  coarse  to  make 
covers  for  horses  of  any  breeding,  and  linen  that  is  more  like 
haircloth  than  any  composition  of  flax.  I  will  strip  them, 
however,  were  it  but  to  vex  the  knaves.  What !  not  content 
with  claiming  to  be  treated  like  an  independent  people,  and 
sending  forth  deputies  and  embassies  forsooth,  they  expect,  I 
warrant,  to  make  the  indemnities  of  ambassadors  cover  the 
introduction  of  a  cargo  of  their  contraband  commodities,  and 
thus  insult  the  noble  Duke  of  Burgundy  and  cheat  him  at  the 
same  time  1  But  De  Hagenbach  is  neither  knight  nor  gentle- 
man if  he  allow  them  to  pass  unchallenged.' 

'And  they  are  better  worth  being  stopped,'  said  Kilian, 
'than  your  Excellency  supposes;  for  they  have  English  mer- 
chants along  with  them,  and  under  their  protection.' 

'  English  merchants ! '  exclaimed  De  Hagenbach,  his  eyes 
sparkling  with  joy  — '  English  merchants,  Kilian  !  Men  talk 
of  Cathay  and  Ind,  where  there  are  mines  of  silver,  and  gold, 
and  diamonds;  but,  on  the  faith  of  a  gentleman,  I  believe 
these  brutish  islanders  have  the  caves  of  treasure  wholly  within 
their  own  foggy  land !  And  then  the  variety  of  their  rich 
merchandise  !  Ha,  Kilian,  is  it  a  long  train  of  mules  —  a  jolly 
tinkling  team?  By  Our  Lady's  glove  !  the  sound  of  it  is  already 
jingling  in  my  ears,  more  musically  than  all  the  harps  of  all 
the  minnesingers  at  Heilbronn  ! ' 

'  Nay,  my  lord,  there  is  no  great  train,'  replied  the  squire  : 
'only  two  men,  as  I  am  given  to  understand,  with  scarce  so 
much  baggage  as  loads  a  mule ;  but,  it  is  said,  of  infinite  value 
—  silk  and  samite,  lace  and  furs,  pearls  and  jewellery- work,  per- 
fumes from  the  East,  and  gold- work  from  Venice.' 

'  Raptures  and  paradise !  say  not  a  word  more,'  exclaimed 
the  rapacious  knight  of  Hagenbach ;  '  they  are  all  our  own, 
Kilian  !  Why,  these  are  the  very  men  I  have  dreamed  of  twice 
a- week  for  this  month  past  —  ay,  two  men  of  middle  stature,  or 
somewhat  under  it,  with  smooth,  round,  fair,  comely  visages, 
having  stomachs  as  plump  as  partridges,  and  purses  as  plump 
as  their  stomachs.     Ha,  what  sayst  thou  to  my  dream,  Kilian  1 ' 

'Only  that,  to  be  quite  soothfast,'  answered  the  squire,  'it 
should  have  included  the  presence  of  a  score,  or  thereabouts,  of 
sturdy  young  giants  as  ever  climbed  cliff  or  carried  bolt  to 
whistle  at  a  chamois ;  a  lusty  plump  of  clubs,  bills,  and  parti- 
zans,  such  as  make  shields  crack  like  oaten  cakes  and  helmets 
ring  like  church-bells.' 


156  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

'  The  better,  knave  —  the  better ! '  exclaimed  the  governor, 
rubbing  his  hands.  '  English  pedlars  to  plunder !  Swiss  bullies 
to  beat  into  submission !  I  wot  well,  we  can  have  nothing  of 
the  Helvetian  swine  save  their  beastly  bristles  :  it  is  lucky 
they  bring  these  two  island  sheep  along  with  them.  But  we 
must  get  ready  our  boar- spears,  and  clear  the  clipping-pens  for 
exercise  of  our  craft.     Here,  Lieutenant  Schonfeldt ! ' 

An  officer  stepped  forth. 

*  How  many  men  are  here  on  duty  ? ' 

'About  sixty,'  replied  the  officer.  'Twenty  out  on  parties 
in  different  directions,  and  there  may  be  forty  or  fifty  in  their 
quarters.' 

'Order  them  all  under  arms  instantly;  harkye,  not  by 
trumpet  or  bugle,  but  by  warning  them  individually  in  their 
quarters  to  draw  to  arms  as  quietly  as  possible,  and  rendezvous 
here  at  the  eastern  gate.  Tell  the  villains  there  is  booty  to  be 
gained,  and  they  shall  have  their  share.' 

'On  these  terms,'  said  Schonfeldt,  'they  will  walk  over  a 
spider's  web  without  startling  the  insect  that  wove  it.  I  will 
collect  them  without  loss  of  an  instant.' 

'I  tell  thee,  Kilian,'  continued  the  exulting  commandant, 
again  speaking  apart  with  his  confidential  attendant,  '  nothing 
could  come  so  luckily  as  the  chance  of  this  onslaught.  Duke 
Charles  desires  to  affront  the  Swiss  —  not,  look  you,  that  he 
cares  to  act  towards  them,  by  his  own  direct  orders,  in  such  a 
manner  as  might  be  termed  a  breach  of  public  faith  towards 
a  peaceful  embassy ;  but  the  gallant  follower  who  shall  save 
his  prince  the  scandal  of  such  an  affair,  and  whose  actions 
may  be  termed  a  mistake  or  misapprehension,  shall,  I  warrant 
you,  be  accounted  to  have  done  knightly  service.  Perchance 
a  frown  may  be  passed  upon  him  in  public,  but  in  private 
the  Duke  will  know  how  to  esteem  him.  Why  standest  thou 
so  silent,  man,  and  what  ails  thy  ugly,  ill-looking  aspect? 
Thou  art  not  afraid  of  twenty  Switzer  boys,  and  we  at  the 
head  of  such  a  band  of  spears  ? ' 

'The  Swiss,'  answered  Kilian,  'will  give  and  take  good 
blows,  yet  I  have  no  fear  of  them.  But  I  like  not  that  we 
should  trust  too  much  to  Duke  Charles.  That  he  would  be,  in 
the  first  instance,  pleased  with  any  dishonour  done  the  Swiss  is 
likely  enough ;  but  if,  as  your  Excellency  hints,  he  finds  it  after- 
wards convenient  to  disown  the  action,  he  is  a  prince  likely  to 
give  a  lively  colour  to  his  disavowal  by  hanging  up  the  actors.' 

'Pshaw!'  said  the  commandant,  'I  know  where  I  stand. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  157 

Such  a  trick  were  like  enough  to  he  played  by  Louis  of  France, 
but  it  is  foreign  to  the  blunt  character  of  our  bold  one  of  Bur- 
gundy. Why  the  devil  stand'st  thou  still,  man,  simpering  like 
an  ape  at  a  roasted  chestnut,  which  he  thinks  too  warm  for 
his  &igers  1 ' 

*  Your  Excellency  is  wise  as  well  as  warlike,'  said  the  esquire, 
*  and  it  is  not  for  me  to  contest  your  pleasure.  But  this  peace- 
ful embassy  —  these  English  merchants  —  if  Charles  goes  to  war 
with  Louis,  as  the  rumour  is  current,  what  he  should  most  of 
all  desire  is  the  neutrahty  of  Switzerland,  and  the  assistance 
of  England,  whose  king  is  crossing  the  sea  with  a  great  army. 
Now  you.  Sir  Archibald  of  Hagenbach,  may  well  do  that  in 
the  course  of  this  very  morning  which  will  put  the  Confeder- 
ated Cantons  in  arms  against  Charles,  and  turn  the  English 
from  allies  into  enemies.' 

'I  care  not,'  said  the  commandant;  *I  know  the  Duke's 
humour  well,  and  if  he,  the  master  of  so  many  provinces,  is 
willing  to  risk  them  in  a  self-willed  frolic,  what  is  it  to 
Archibald  de  Hagenbach,  who  has  not  a  foot  of  land  to  lose  in 
the  cause  ? ' 

*  But  you  have  life,  my  lord,'  said  the  esquire. 

*  Ay,  life  ! '  replied  the  knight  —  *  a  paltry  right  to  exist, 
which  I  have  been  ready  to  stake  every  day  of  my  life  for 
dollars  —  ay,  and  for  kreutzers  —  and  think  you  I  will  hesitate  to 
pledge  it  for  broad-pieces,  jewels  of  the  East,  and  goldsmith's 
work  of  Venice  ?  No,  Kilian ;  these  English  must  be  eased 
of  their  bales,  that  Archibald  de  Hagenbach  may  drink  a  purer 
flask  than  their  thin  Moselle,  and  wear  a  brocade  doublet 
instead  of  greasy  velvet.  Nor  is  it  less  necessary  that  Kilian 
should  have  a  seemly  new  jerkin,  with  a  purse  of  ducats  to 
jingle  at  his  girdle.' 

*  By  my  faith,'  said  Kilian,  *  that  last  argument  hath  dis- 
armed my  scruples,  and  I  give  up  the  point,  since  it  ill  befits 
me  to  dispute  with  your  Excellency.' 

'  To  the  work  then,'  said  his  leader.  *  But  stay ;  we  must 
first  take  the  church  along  with  us.  The  priest  of  St.  Paul's 
hath  been  moody  of  late,  and  spread  abroad  strange  things 
from  the  pulpit,  as  if  we  were  little  better  than  common 
pillagers  and  robbers.  Nay,  he  hath  had  the  insolence  to  warn 
me,  as  he  termed  it,  twice,  in  strange  form.  It  were  well  to 
break  the  growling  mastiffs  bald  head ;  but,  since  that  might 
be  ill  taken  by  the  Duke,  the  next  point  of  wisdom  is  to  fling 
him  a  bone.' 


158  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  He  may  be  a  dangerous  enemy/  said  the  squire,  dubiously; 
*his  power  is  great  with  the  people.' 

*  Tush ! '  replied  Hagenbach,  '  I  know  how  to  disarm  the 
shaveling.  Send  to  him,  and  tell  him  to  come  hither  to  speak 
with  me.  Meanwhile,  have  all  our  force  under  arms  ;  let  the 
barbican  and  barrier  be  well  manned  with  archers ;  station 
spearmen  in  the  houses  on  each  hand  of  the  gateway  ;  and  let 
the  street  be  barricaded  with  carts,  well  bound  together,  but 
placed  as  if  they  had  been  there  by  accident ;  place  a  body  of 
determined  fellows  in  these  carts,  and  behind  them.  So  soon 
as  the  merchants  and  their  mules  enter,  for  that  is  the  main 
point,  up  with  your  drawbridge,  down  with  the  portcullis, 
send  a  volley  of  arrows  among  those  who  are  without,  if  they 
make  any  scuffle ;  disarm  and  secure  those  who  have  entered, 
and  are  cooped  up  between  the  barricade  before  and  the 
ambush  behind  and  around  them.     And  then,  Kilian ' 

'And  then,'  said  his  esquire,  'shall  we,  like  merry  Free 
Companions,  be  knuckle-deep  in  the  English  budgets ' 

'And,  like  jovial  hunters,'  replied  the  knight,  'elbow-deep 
in  Swiss  blood.* 

'  The  game  will  stand  at  bay  though,'  answered  Kilian. 

*  They  are  led  by  that  Donnerhugel  whom  we  have  heard  o^ 
whom  they  call  the  Young  Bear  of  Berne.  They  will  turn  to 
their  defence.' 

'  The  better,  man ;  wouldst  thou  kill  sheep  rather  than  hunt 
wolves  ?  Besides,  our  toils  are  set,  and  the  whole  garrison  shall 
assist.  Shame  on  thee,  Kilian,  thou  wert  not  wont  to  have  so 
many  scruples  ! ' 

'  Nor  have  I  now,'  said  Kilian.  '  But  these  Swiss  bills,  and 
two-handed  swords  of  the  breadth  of  four  inches,  are  no  child's 
play.  And  then,  if  you  call  all  our  garrison  to  the  attack,  to 
whom  will  your  Excellency  entrust  the  defence  of  the  other 
gates  and  the  circuit  of  the  walls  % ' 

'Lock,  bolt,  and  chain  up  the  gates,' replied  the  governor, 

*  and  bring  the  keys  hither.  There  shall  no  one  leave  the  place 
till  this  affair  is  over.  Let  some  score  of  the  citizens  take  arms 
for  the  duty  of  guarding  the  walls  ;  and  look  they  discharge  it 
well,  or  I  will  lay  a  fine  on  them  which  they  shall  discharge  to 
purpose.' 

'  They  will  grumble,'  said  Kilian.  '  They  say  that,  not  being 
the  Duke's  subjects,  though  the  place  is  impledged  to  his  Grace, 
they  are  not  liable  to  military  service.' 

'They  lie!  the  cowardly  slaves,'  answered  De  Hagenbach. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  159 

*  If  I  have  not  employed  them  much  hitherto,  it  is  because  I 
scorn  their  assistance  ;  nor  would  I  now  use  their  help,  were  it 
for  anything  save  to  keep  a  watch,  by  looking  out  straight 
before  them.  Let  them  obey,  as  they  respect  their  property, 
persons,  and  families.' 

A  deep  voice  behind  them  repeated  the  emphatic  language 
of  Scripture  —  *  I  have  seen  the  wicked  man  flourish  in  his  power 
even  like  unto  a  laurel,  but  I  returned  and  he  was  not  —  yea,  I 
sought  him,  but  he  was  not  to  be  found.' 

Sir  Archibald  de  Hagenbach  turned  sternly,  and  encountered 
the  dark  and  ominous  looks  of  the  priest  of  St.  Paul's,  dressed 
in  the  vestments  of  his  order. 

*We  are  busy,  father,'  said  the  governor,  'and  will  hear 
your  preachments  another  time.' 

'I  come  by  your  summons,  sir  governor,'  said  the  priest, 

*  or  I  had  not  intruded  myself  where  I  well  knew  my  preach- 
ments, if  you  term  them  so,  will  do  no  good.' 

'  0,  I  crave  your  mercy,  reverend  father,'  said  De  Hagen- 
bach. '  Yes,  it  is  true  that  I  did  send  for  you,  to  desire  your 
prayers  and  kind  intercession  with  Our  Lady  and  St.  Paul  in 
some  transactions  which  are  likely  to  occur  this  morning,  and 
in  which,  as  the  Lombard  says,  I  do  espy  roha  di  guadagno.^ 

'Sir  Archibald,'  answered  the  priest,  calmly,  'I  well  hope 
and  trust  that  you  do  not  forget  the  nature  of  the  glorified 
saints  so  far  as  to  ask  them  for  their  blessing  upon  such 
exploits  as  you  have  been  too  offc  engaged  in  since  your  arrival 
amongst  us  —  an  event  which  of  itself  gave  token  of  the  Divine 
anger.  Nay,  let  me  say,  humble  as  I  am,  that  decency  to  a 
servant  of  the  altar  should  check  you  from  proposing  to  me  to 
put  up  prayers  for  the  success  of  pillage  and  robbery.' 

'  I  understand  you,   father,'   said   the  rapacious  governor, 

*  and  you  shall  see  I  do.  While  you  are  the  Duke's  subject, 
you  must  by  your  office  put  up  your  prayers  for  his  success  in 
matters  that  are  fairly  managed.  You  acknowledge  this  with 
a  graceful  bend  of  your  reverend  head  1  "Well,  then,  I  will  be 
as  reasonable  as  you  are.  Say  we  desire  the  intercession  of  the 
good  saints,  and  of  you,  their  pious  orator,  in  something  a  little 
out  of  the  ordinary  path,  and,  if  you  will,  somewhat  of  a 
doubtful  complexion  —  are  we  entitled  to  ask  you  or  them  for 
their  pains  and  trouble  without  a  just  consideration  ?  Surely 
no.  Therefore  I  vow  and  solemnly  promise  that,  if  I  have 
good  fortune  in  this  morning's  adventure,  St.  Paul  shall  have 
an  altar-cloth  and  a  basin  of  silver,  large  or  little,  as  my  booty 


160  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

will  permit ;  Our  Lady  a  web  of  satin  for  a  full  suit,  with  a 
necklace  of  pearl  for  holidays ;  and  thou,  priest,  some  twenty 
pieces  of  broad  English  gold,  for  acting  as  go-between  betwixt 
ourselves  and  the  blessed  Apostles,  whom  we  aclmowledge  our- 
selves unworthy  to  negotiate  with  in  our  profane  person.  And 
now,  sir  priest,  do  we  understand  each  other,  for  I  have  little 
time  to  lose  ?  I  know  you  have  hard  thoughts  of  me,  but  you 
see  the  devil  is  not  quite  so  horrible  as  he  is  painted.' 

*  Do  we  understand  each  other  ? '  answered  the  black  priest 
of  St.  Paul's,  repeating  the  governor's  question.  *  Alas,  no  ! 
and  I  fear  me  we  never  shall.  Hast  thou  never  heard  the 
words  spoken  by  the  holy  hermit,  Berchtold  of  OfFringen,  to 
the  implacable  Queen  Agnes,  who  had  revenged  with  such 
dreadful  severity  the  assassination  of  her  father,  the  Emperor 
Albert? 

*  Not  I,'  returned  the  knight ;  *  I  have  neither  studied  the 
chronicles  of  emperors  nor  the  legends  of  hermits  ;  and,  there- 
fore, sir  priest,  an  you  like  not  my  proposal,  let  us  have  no 
farther  words  on  the  matter.  I  am  unwont  to  press  my  favours, 
or  to  deal  with  priests  who  require  entreaty  when  gifts  are  held 
out  to  them.' 

*  Hear  yet  the  words  of  the  holy  man,'  said  the  priest.  *  The 
time  may  come,  and  that  shortly,  when  you  would  gladly  desire 
to  hear  what  you  scornfully  reject.' 

*  Speak  on,  but  be  brief,'  said  Archibald  de  Hagenbach ; 
'and  know,  though  thou  mayst  terrify  or  cajole  the  multitude, 
thou  now  speakest  to  one  whose  resolution  is  fixed  far  beyond 
the  power  of  thy  eloquence  to  melt.' 

*Know,  then,'  said  the  priest  of  St.  Paul's,  'that  Agnes, 
daughter  of  the  murdered  Albert,  after  shedding  oceans  of 
blood  in  avenging  his  bloody  death,  founded  at  length  the  rich 
abbey  of  Koenigsfeldt ;  and,  that  it  might  have  a  superior  claim 
to  renowned  sanctity,  made  a  pilgrimage  in  person  to  the  cell 
of  the  holy  hermit,  and  besought  of  him  to  honour  her  abbey 
by  taking  up  his  residence  there.  But  what  was  his  reply  ? 
Mark  it  and  tremble.  "Begone,  ruthless  woman,"  said  the 
holy  man ;  "  God  will  not  be  served  with  blood-guiltiness,  and 
rejects  the  gifts  which  are  obtained  by  violence  and  robbery. 
The  Almighty  loves  mercy,  justice,  and  humanity,  and  by  the 
lovers  of  these  only  will  He  be  worshipped."  And  now,  Archi- 
bald of  Hagenbach,  once,  twice,  thrice  hast  thou  had  warning. 
Live  as  becomes  a  man  on  whom  sentence  is  passed,  and  who 
must  expect  execution.' 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  161 

Having  spoken  these  words  with  a  menacing  tone  and 
frowning  aspect,  the  priest  of  St.  Paul's  turned  away  from  the 
governor,  whose  first  impulse  was  to  command  him  to  be 
arrested.  But,  when  he  recollected  the  serious  consequences 
which  attached  to  the  laying  violent  hands  on  a  priest,  he 
suffered  him  to  depart  in  peace,  conscious  that  his  own  un- 
popularity might  render  any  attempt  to  revenge  himself  an  act 
of  great  rashness.  He  called,  therefore,  for  a  beaker  of  Bur- 
gundy, in  which  he  swallowed  down  his  displeasure,  and  had 
just  returned  to  Kilian  the  cup,  which  he  had  drained  to  the 
bottom,  when  the  warden  winded  a  blast  from  the  watch- 
tower,  which  betokened  the  arrival  of  strangers  at  the  gate  of 
the  city. 


VOL.  xxin — 11 


CHAPTER  XIV 

I  will  resist  such  entertainment,  till 
My  enemy  has  more  power. 

The  Tempest. 

'  ^  I  AHAT  blast  was  but  feebly  blown/  said  De  Hagenbach, 
I  ascending  to  the  ramparts,  from  which  he  could 
-1-  see  what  passed  on  the  outside  of  the  gate.  '  Who 
approaches,  Kilian  V 

The  trusty  squire  was  hastening  to  meet  him  with  the  news. 

'  Two  men  with  a  mule,  an  it  please  your  Excellency ;  and 
merchants,  I  presume  them  to  be.' 

*  Merchants  !  'Sdeath,  villain !  pedlars  you  mean.  Heard 
ever  man  of  English  merchants  tramping  it  on  foot,  with  no 
more  baggage  than  one  mule  can  manage  to  carry?  They 
must  be  beggarly  Bohemians,  or  those  whom  the  French  people 
call  Escossais.  The  knaves  !  they  shall  pay  with  the  pining  of 
their  paunches  for  the  poverty  of  their  purses.' 

'  Do  not  be  too  hasty,  an  't  please  your  Excellency,'  quoth 
the  squire  :  *  small  budgets  hold  rich  goods.  But  rich  or  poor, 
they  are  our  men,  at  least  they  have  all  the  marks  :  the  elder, 
well-sized  and  dark-visaged,  may  write  fifty-and-five  years,  a 
beard  somewhat  grizzled  ;  the  younger,  some  two -and- twenty, 
taller  than  the  first,  and  a  well-favoured  lad,  with  a  smooth 
chin  and  light-brown  mustachios.' 

'  Let  them  be  admitted,'  said  the  governor,  turning  back  in 
order  again  to  descend  to  the  street,  '  and  bring  them  into  the 
folterJcammer  of  the  toll-house.' 

So  sajdng,  he  betook  himself  to  the  place  appointed,  which 
was  an  apartment  in  the  large  tower  that  protected  the  eastern 
gateway,  in  which  were  deposited  the  rack,  with  various  other 
instruments  of  torture,  which  the  cruel  and  rapacious  governor 
was  in  the  habit  of  applying  to  such  prisoners  from  whom  he 
was  desirous  of  extorting  either  booty  or  information.  He 
entered  the  apartment,  which  was  dimly  lighted,  and  had  a 
lofty  Gothic  roof  which  could  be  but  imperfectly  seen,  while 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  163 

nooses  and  cords  hanging  down  from  thence  announced  a  fear- 
ful connexion  with  various  implements  of  rusted  iron  that  hung 
round  the  walls  or  lay  scattered  on  the  floor. 

A  faint  stream  of  light  through  one  of  the  numerous  and 
narrow  slits,  or  shot-holes,  with  which  the  waUs  were  garnished, 
fell  directly  upon  the  person  and  visage  of  a  taU,  swarthy  man, 
seated  in  what,  but  for  the  partial  illumination,  would  have 
been  an  obscure  comer  of  this  evil-boding  apartment.  His 
features  were  regular,  and  even  handsome,  but  of  a  character 
peculiarly  stem  and  sinister.  This  person's  dress  was  a  cloak  of 
scarlet ;  his  head  was  bare,  and  surrounded  by  shaggy  locks  of 
black,  which  time  had  partly  grizzled.  He  was  busily  employed 
in  furbishing  and  burnishing  a  broad  two-handed  sword,  of  a 
peculiar  shape,  and  considerably  shorter  than  the  weapons  of 
that  kind  which  we  have  described  as  used  by  the  Swiss.  He 
was  so  deeply  engaged  in  his  task,  that  he  started  as  the  heavy 
door  opened  with  a  jarring  noise,  and  the  sword,  escaping  from 
his  hold,  rolled  on  the  stone  floor  with  a  heavy  clash. 

'  Ha !  scharfgerichte/r^  said  the  knight,  as  he  entered  the 
folterkammer,  'thou  art  preparing  for  thy  duty?' 

'  It  would  ill  become  your  Excellency's  servant,'  answered  the 
man,  in  a  harsh,  deep  tone,  '  to  be  found  idle.  But  the  prisoner 
is  not  far  ofi",  as  I  can  judge  by  the  faU  of  my  sword,  which 
infallibly  announces  the  presence  of  him  who  shall  feel  its 
edge.' 

'The  prisoners  are  at  hand,  Francis,'  replied  the  govemor; 
'  but  thy  omen  has  deceived  thee  for  once.  They  are  fellows 
for  whom  a  good  rope  wiU  sufiice,  and  thy  sword  drinks  only 
noble  blood.' 

'The  worst  for  Francis  Steinemherz,'  replied  the  official  in 
scarlet :  '  I  trusted  that  your  Excellency,  who  have  ever  been  a 
bountiful  patron,  should  this  day  have  made  me  noble.' 

'  Noble ! '  said  the  governor ;  '  thou  art  mad.  Thou  noble  — • 
the  common  executioner  ! ' 

'  And  wherefore  not.  Sir  Archibald  de  Hagenbach  1  I  think 
the  name  of  Francis  Steinemherz  vcm  Blutacker  will  suit 
nobility,  being  fairly  and  legally  won,  as  well  as  another.  Nay, 
do  not  stare  on  me  thus.  If  one  of  my  profession  shall  do  his 
grim  office  on  nine  men  of  noble  birth,  with  the  same  weapon, 
and  with  a  single  blow  to  each  patient,  hath  he  not  a  right  to 
his  freedom  from  taxes,  and  his  nobility  by  patent  *? ' 

'So  says  the  law,'  said  Sir  Archibald,  after  reflecting  for  a 
moment;  'but  rather  more  in  scorn  than  seriously,  I  should 


164  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

judge,  since  no  one  was  ever  known  to  claim  the  benefit 
of  it.' 

'The  prouder  boast  for  him,'  said  the  functionary,  'that 
shall  be  the  first  to  demand  the  honours  due  to  a  sharp  sword 
and  a  clean  stroke.  I,  Francis  Steinernherz,  will  be  the  first 
noble  of  my  profession,  when  I  shall  have  despatched  one  more 
knight  of  the  Empire.' 

'  Thou  hast  been  ever  in  my  service,  hast  thou  not  ? '  de- 
manded De  Hagenbach. 

'Under  what  other  master,'  replied  the  executioner,  'could 
I  have  enjoyed  such  constant  practice  %  I  have  executed  your 
decrees  on  condemned  sinners  since  I  could  swing  a  scourge, 
lift  a  crowbar,  or  wield  this  trusty  weapon  ;  and  who  can  say 
I  ever  failed  of  my  first  blow,  or  needed  to  deal  a  second? 
Tristrem  of  the  Hospital,  and  his  famous  assistants.  Petit  Andr^ 
and  Trois-Eschelles,  are  novices  compared  with  me  in  the  use 
of  the  noble  and  knightly  sword.  Marry,  I  should  be  ashamed 
to  match  myself  with  them  in  the  field  practice  with  bowstring 
and  dagger  ;  these  are  no  feats  worthy  of  a  Christian  man  who 
would  rise  to  honour  and  nobility.' 

'  Thou  art  a  fellow  of  excellent  address,  and  I  do  not  deny 
it,'  replied  De  Hagenbach.  'But  it  cannot  be  —  I  trust  it  can- 
not be  —  that,  when  noble  blood  is  becoming  scarce  in  the  land, 
and  proud  churls  are  lording  it  over  knights  and  barons,  I 
myself  should  have  caused  so  much  to  be  spilled  ? ' 

'  I  will  number  the  patients  to  your  Excellency  by  name  and 
title,'  said  Francis,  drawing  out  a  scroll  of  parchment,  and 
reading  with  a  commentary  as  he  went  on.  '  There  was  Count 
William  of  Elvershoe ;  he  was  my  assay-piece,  a  sweet  youth, 
and  died  most  like  a  Christian.' 

'  I  remember ;  he  was  indeed  a  most  smart  youth,  and 
courted  my  mistress,'  said  Sir  Archibald. 

'  He  died  on  St.  Jude's,  in  the  year  of  grace  1455,'  said  the 
executioner. 

'  Go  on,  but  name  no  dates,'  said  the  governor. 

'  Sir  Miles  of  Stockenborg ' 

'  He  drove  off  my  cattle,'  observed  his  Excellency. 

'  Sir  Louis  of  Riesenfeldt '  continued  the  executioner. 

'  He  made  love  to  my  wife,'  commented  the  governor. 

'The  three  Jungherrn  of  Lammerbourg;  you  made  their 
father,  the  count,  childless  in  one  day.' 

'And  he  made  me  landless,'  said  Sir  Archibald,  'so  that 
account  is  settled.    Thou  needest  read  no  farther,'  he  con- 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  165 

tinued,  '  1  admit  thy  record,  though  it  is  written  in  letters 
somewhat  of  the  reddest.  I  had  counted  these  three  young 
gentlemen  as  one  execution.' 

'  You  did  me  the  greater  wrong,'  said  Francis  :  *  they  cost 
three  good  separate  blows  of  this  good  sword.' 

*Be  it  so,  and  God  be  with  their  souls,'  said  Hagenbach. 
'  But  thy  ambition  must  go  to  sleep  for  a  while,  sclmrfgerichter^ 
for  the  stuff  that  came  hither  to-day  is  for  dungeon  and  cord, 
or  perhaps  a  touch  of  the  rack  or  strappado  :  there  is  no  honour 
to  win  on  them.' 

'The  worse  luck  mine,'  said  the  executioner.  'I  had 
dreamed  so  surely  that  your  honour  had  made  me  noble  —  and 
then  the  fall  of  my  sword  ? ' 

'  Take  a  bowl  of  wine,  and  forget  your  auguries.' 

'  With  your  honour's  permission,  no,'  said  the  executioner  : 
*to  drink  before  noon  were  to  endanger  the  nicety  of  my 
hand.' 

'  Be  silent,  then,  and  mind  your  duty,'  said  De  Hagenbach. 

Francis  took  up  his  sheathless  sword,  wiped  the  dust  rever- 
ently from  it,  and  withdrew  into  a  comer  of  the  chamber, 
where  he  stood  leaning  with  his  hands  on  the  pommel  of  the 
fatal  weapon. 

Almost  immediately  afterwards,  Kilian  entered  at  the  head 
of  five  or  six  soldiers,  conducting  the  two  Philipsons,  whose 
arms  were  tied  down  with  cords. 

'Approach  me  a  chair,'  said  the  governor,  and  took  his 
place  gravely  beside  a  table,  on  which  stood  writing-materials. 
'  Who  are  these  men,  Kilian,  and  wherefore  are  they  bound  ? ' 

'  So  please  your  Excellency,'  said  Kilian,  with  a  deep  respect 
of  manner  which  entirely  differed  from  the  tone,  approaching 
to  familiarity,  with  which  he  communicated  with  his  master  in 
private,  'we  thought  it  well  that  these  two  strangers  should 
not  appear  armed  in  your  gracious  presence ;  and  when  we 
required  of  them  to  surrender  their  weapons  at  the  gate,  as  is 
the  custom  of  the  garrison,  this  young  gallant  must  needs 
offer  resistance.  I  admit  he  gave  up  his  weapon  at  his  father's 
command.' 

'  It  is  false ! '  exclaimed  young  Philipson  ;  but  his  father 
making  a  sign  to  him  to  be  silent,  he  obeyed  instantly. 

'Noble  sir,'  said  the  elder  Philipson,  'we  are  strangers,  and 
unacquainted  with  the  rules  of  this  citadel ;  we  are  English- 
men, and  unaccustomed  to  submit  to  personal  mishandling ; 
we  trust  you  will  have  excuse  for  us,  when  we  found  ourselves, 


166  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

without  any  explanation  of  the  cause,  rudely  seized  on  by  we 
knew  not  whom.  My  son,  who  is  young  and  unthinking,  did 
partly  draw  his  weapon,  but  desisted  at  my  command,  without 
having  altogether  unsheathed  his  sword,  far  less  made  a  blow. 
For  myself,  I  am  a  merchant,  accustomed  to  submit  to  the 
laws  and  customs  of  the  countries  in  which  I  traffic ;  I  am  in 
the  territories  of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  and  I  know  his  laws 
and  customs  must  be  just  and  equitable.  He  is  the  powerful 
and  faithful  ally  of  England,  and  I  fear  nothing  while  under 
his  banner.' 

'  Hem  —  hem  ! '  replied  De  Hagenbach,  a  little  disconcerted 
by  the  Englishman's  composure,  and  perhaps  recollecting  that, 
unless  his  passions  were  awakened,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Swiss, 
whom  he  detested,  Charles  of  Burgundy  deserved  the  character 
of  a  just  though  severe  prince.  *  Fair  words  are  well,  but 
hardly  make  amends  for  foul  actions.  You  have  drawn  swords 
in  riot  and  opposition  to  the  Duke's  soldiers,  when  obeying 
the  mandates  which  regulate  their  watch.' 
^  'Surely,  sir,'  answered  Philipson,  *this  is  a  severe  construc- 
tion of  a  most  natural  action.  But,  in  a  word,  if  you  are 
disposed  to  be  rigorous,  the  simple  action  of  drawing,  or  at- 
tempting to  draw,  a  sword  in  a  garrison  town  is  only  punish- 
able by  pecuniary  fine,  and  such  we  must  pay,  if  it  be  your 
will.' 

'  Now,  here  is  a  silly  sheep,'  said  Kilian  to  the  executioner, 
beside  whom  he  had  stationed  himself,  somewhat  apart  from 
the  group,  'who  voluntarily  offers  his  own  fleece  to  the 
clipper.' 

*  It  will  scarcely  serve  as  a  ransom  for  his  throat,  sir  squire,' 
answered  Francis  Steinernherz ;  *  for,  look  you,  I  dreamed  last 
night  that  our  master  made  me  noble,  and  I  knew  by  the  fall 
of  my  sword  that  this  is  the  man  by  whom  I  am  to  mount 
to  gentility.  I  must  this  very  day  deal  on  him  with  my  good 
sword.' 

'  Why,  thou  ambitious  fool,'  said  the  esquire,  *  this  is  no 
noble,  but  an  island  pedlar  —  a  mere  English  citizen.' 

'Thou  art  deceived,'  said  the  executioner,  'and  hast  never 
looked  on  men  when  they  are  about  to  die.' 

*  Have  I  not  ? '  said  the  squire.  '  Have  I  not  looked  on 
five  pitched  fields,  besides  skirmishes  and  ambuscades  in- 
numerable 1 ' 

'That  tries  not  the  courage,'  S8iid  the  schar/gerichter.  'AH 
men  will  fight  when  pitched  against  each  other.     So  will  the 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  167 

most  paltry  curs,  so  will  the  dunghill  fowls.  But  he  is  brave 
and  noble  who  can  look  on  a  scaffold  and  a  block,  a  priest  to 
give  him  absolution,  and  the  headsman  and  good  sword  which 
is  to  mow  him  down  in  his  strength,  as  he  would  look  upon 
things  indifferent;  and  such  a  man  is  that  whom  we  now 
behold.' 

'Yes,'  answered  Kilian,  *but  that  man  looks  not  on  such  an 
apparatus  :  he  only  sees  our  illustrious  patron.  Sir  Archibald 
de  Hagenbach.' 

'  And  he  who  looks  upon  Sir  Archibald,'  said  the  executioner, 
'being,  as  yonder  man  assuredly  is,  a  person  of  sense  and 
apprehension,  looks  he  not  upon  sword  and  headsman  1  Assur- 
edly that  prisoner  apprehends  as  much,  and  being  so  composed 
as  he  is  under  such  conviction,  it  shows  him  to  be  a  nobleman 
by  blood,  or  may  I  myself  never  win  nobility  ! ' 

'Our  master  will  come  to  compromise  with  him,  I  judge,' 
replied  Kilian;  'he  looks  smilingly  on  him.' 

'Never  trust  to  me  then,'  said  the  man  in  scarlet;  'there 
is  a  glance  in  Sir  Archibald's  eye  which  betokens  blood,  as 
surely  as  the  dog-star  bodes  pestilence.' 

While  these  dependants  of  Sir  Archibald  de  Hagenbach  were 
thus  conversing  apart,  their  master  had  engaged  the  prisoners 
in  a  long  train  of  captious  interrogatories  concerning  their 
business  in  Switzerland,  their  connexion  with  the  Landamman, 
and  the  cause  of  their  travelling  into  Burgundy,  to  all  which 
the  senior  Philipson  gave  direct  and  plain  answers,  excepting 
to  the  last.  He  was  going,  he  said,  into  Burgundy,  for  the 
purpose  of  his  traffic;  his  wares  were  at  the  disposal  of  the 
governor,  who  might  detain  all,  or  any  part,  of  them,  as  he 
might  be  disposed  to  make  himself  answerable  to  his  master. 
But  his  business  with  the  Duke  was  of  a  private  nature,  re- 
specting some  particular  matters  of  commerce,  in  which  others 
as  well  as  he  himself  were  interested.  To  the  Duke  alone,  he 
declared,  would  he  communicate  the  affair ;  and  he  pressed  it 
strongly  on  the  governor,  that,  if  he  should  sustain  any  damage 
in  his  own  person  or  that  of  his  son,  the  Duke's  severe  dis- 
pleasure would  be  the  inevitable  consequence. 

De  Hagenbach  was  evidently  much  embarrassed  by  the 
steady  tone  of  his  prisoner,  and  more  than  once  held  counsel 
with  the  bottle,  his  never-failing  oracle  in  cases  of  extreme 
difficulty.  Philipson  had  readily  surrendered  to  the  governor  a 
list  or  invoice  of  his  merchandise,  which  was  of  so  inviting  a 
character,  that  Sir  Archibald  absolutely  gloated  over  it.     After 


168  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

remaining  in  deep  meditation  for  some  time,  he  raised  his  head 
and  spoke  thus  :  — 

*You  must  be  well  aware,  sir  merchant,  that  it  is  the 
Duke's  pleasure  that  no  Swiss  merchandise  shall  pass  through 
his  territories;  and  that,  nevertheless,  you  having  been,  by 
your  own  account,  some  time  in  that  country,  and  have  also 
accompanied  a  body  of  men  calling  themselves  Swiss  deputies, 
I  am  authorized  to  believe  that  these  valuable  articles  are 
rather  the  property  of  those  persons  than  of  a  single  individual 
of  so  poor  an  appearance  as  yourself,  and  that,  should  I  demand 
pecuniary  satisfaction,  three  hundred  pieces  of  gold  would  not 
be  an  extravagant  fine  for  so  bold  a  practice ;  and  you  might 
wander  where  you  will  with  the  rest  of  your  wares,  so  you  bring 
them  not  into  Burgundy/ 

'But  it  is  to  Burgundy,  and  to  the  Duke's  presence,  that 
I  am  expressly  bound,'  said  the  Englishman.  'If  I  go  not 
thither  my  journey  is  wrecked,  and  the  Duke's  displeasure  is 
certain  to  light  on  those  who  may  molest  me.  For  I  make 
your  Excellency  aware,  that  your  gracious  prince  already  knows 
of  my  journey,  and  will  make  strict  inquiry  where  and  by  whom 
I  have  been  intercepted.' 

Again  the  governor  was  silent,  endeavouring  to  decide  how 
he  might  best  reconcile  the  gratification  of  his  rapacity  with 

Erecaution  for  his  safety.  After  a  few  minutes'  consideration, 
e  again  addressed  his  prisoner. 

*  Thou  art  very  positive  in  thy  tale,  my  good  friend ;  but 
my  orders  are  equally  so  to  exclude  merchandise  coming  from 
Switzerland.  What  if  I  put  thy  mule  and  baggage  under  arrest  ? ' 

'I  cannot  withstand  your  power,  my  lord,  to  do  what  you 
wilL  I  will  in  that  case  go  to  the  Duke's  footstool  and  do  my 
erf  and  there.' 

'Ay,  and  my  errand  also,'  answered  the  governor.  'That 
is,  thou  wilt  carry  thy  complaint  to  the  Duke  against  the 
governor  of  La  Ferette,  for  executing  his  orders  too  strictly  ? ' 

'On  my  life  and  honest  word,'  answered  the  Englishman, 
*  I  will  make  no  complaint.  Leave  me  but  my  ready  money, 
without  which  I  can  hardly  travel  to  the  Duke's  court,  and  I 
will  look  no  more  after  these  goods  and  wares  than  the  stag 
looks  after  the  antlers  which  he  shed  last  year.' 

Again  the  governor  of  La  Ferette  looked  doubtful,  and 
shook  his  head. 

'  Men  in  such  a  case  as  yours,'  he  said,  '  cannot  be  trusted, 
nor,  to  say  truth,  is  it  reasonable  to  expect  they  should  be 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  169 

trustworthy.  These  same  wares,  designed  for  the  Duke's  pri- 
vate hand,  in  what  do  they  consist  ? ' 

'  They  are  under  seal,'  replied  the  Englishman. 

*  They  are  of  rare  value,  doubtless  1 '  continued  the  governor. 
'  I  cannot  tell,'  answered  the  elder  Philipson ;  '  I  know  the 

Duke  sets  great  store  by  them.  But  your  Excellency  knows 
that  great  princes  sometimes  place  a  high  value  on  trifles.' 

'  Bear  you  them  about  you  ? '  said  the  governor.  *  Take 
heed  how  you  answer.  Look  around  you  on  these  engines, 
which  can  bring  a  dumb  man  to  speak,  and  consider  I  have  the 
power  to  employ  them  ! ' 

'And  I  the  courage  to  support  their  worst  infliction,'  an- 
swered Philipson,  with  the  same  impenetrable  coolness  which 
he  had  maintained  throughout  the  whole  conference. 

'Remember  also,'  said  Hagenbach,  'that  I  can  have  your 
person  searched  as  thoroughly  as  your  mails  and  budgets.' 

'  I  do  remember  that  I  am  wholly  in  thy  power ;  and  that  I 
may  leave  thee  no  excuse  for  employing  force  on  a  peaceful 
traveller,  I  will  own  to  you,'  said  Philipson,  '  that  I  have  the 
Duke's  packet  in  the  bosom  of  my  doublet.' 

'  Bring  it  forth,'  answered  the  governor. 

'  My  hands  are  tied,  both  in  honour  and  literally,'  said  the 
Englishman. 

'  Pluck  it  from  his  bosom,  Kilian,'  said  Sir  Archibald ;  '  let 
us  see  this  gear  he  talks  of 

'  Could  resistance  avail,'  replied  the  stout  merchant,  '  you 
should  pluck  forth  my  heart  first.  But  I  pray  all  who  are 
present  to  observe  that  the  seals  are  every  one  whole  and 
unbroken  at  this  moment  when  it  is  forcibly  taken  from  my 
person.' 

As  he  spoke  thus,  he  looked  around  on  the  soldiers,  whose 
presence  De  Hagenbach  had  perhaps  forgotten. 

'  How,  dog ! '  said  Sir  Archibald,  giving  way  to  his  passion, 
'  would  you  stir  up  mutiny  among  my  men-at-arms  ?  Kilian, 
let  the  soldiers  wait  without.' 

So  saying,  he  hastily  placed  under  cover  of  his  own  robe  the 
small  but  remarkably  well- secured  packet  which  Kilian  had 
taken  from  the  merchant's  person.  The  soldiers  withdrew, 
lingering,  however,  and  looking  back,  like  children  brought  away 
from  a  show  before  its  final  conclusion. 

*  So,  fellow ! '  again  began  De  Hagenbach,  *  we  are  now  more 
private.  Wilt  thou  deal  more  on  the  level  with  me,  and  tell 
me  what  this  packet  is,  and  whence  it  comes  1 ' 


170  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  Could  all  your  garrison  be  crowded  into  this  room,  I  can 
only  answer  as  before.  The  contents  I  do  not  precisely  know ; 
the  person  by  whom  it  was  sent  I  am  determined  not  to  name.' 

'Perhaps  your  son,'  said  the  governor,  'may  be  more 
compliant.' 

*  He  cannot  tell  you  that  of  which  he  is  himself  ignorant,' 
answered  the  merchant. 

'  Perchance  the  rack  may  make  you  both  find  your  tongues ; 
and  we  will  try  it  on  the  young  fellow  first,  Kilian,  since  thou 
knowest  we  have  seen  men  shrink  from  beholding  the  wrenched 
joints  of  their  children,  that  would  have  committed  their  own 
old  sinews  to  the  stretching  with  much  endurance.' 

'You  may  make  the  trial,'  said  Arthur,  'and  Heaven  will 
give  me  strength  to  endure ' 

'  And  me  courage  to  behold,'  added  his  father. 

All  this  while  the  governor  was  turning  and  returning  the 
little  packet  in  his  hand,  curiously  inspecting  every  fold,  and 
regretting,  doubtless,  in  secret,  that  a  few  patches  of  wax,  placed 
under  an  envelope  of  crimson  satin,  and  ligatures  of  twisted 
silk  cord,  should  prevent  his  eager  eyes  from  ascertaining  the 
nature  of  the  treasure  which  he  doubted  not  it  concealed.  At 
length  he  again  called  in  the  soldiers,  and  delivered  up  the  two 
prisoners  to  their  charge,  commanding  that  they  should  be  kept 
safely,  and  in  separate  holds,  and  that  the  father,  in  particular, 
should  be  most  carefully  looked  after. 

'I  take  you  all  here  to  witness,'  exclaimed  the  elder  Philip- 
son,  despising  the  menacing  signs  of  De  Hagenbach,  '  that  the 
governor  detains  from  me  a  packet,  addressed  to  his  most 
gracious  lord  and  master,  the  Duke  of  Burgundy.' 

De  Hagenbach  actually  foamed  at  the  mouth  with  passion. 

'  And  should  I  not  detain  it  ? '  he  exclaimed,  in  a  voice 
inarticulate  with  rage.  '  May  there  not  be  some  foul  practice 
against  the  life  of  our  most  gracious  sovereign,  by  poison  or 
otherwise,  in  this  suspicious  packet,  brought  by  a  most  suspi- 
cious bearer  1  Have  we  never  heard  of  poisons  which  do  their 
work  by  the  smell  ?  And  shall  we,  who  keep  the  gate,  as  I 
may  say,  of  his  Grace  of  Burgundy's  dominions,  give  access  to 
what  may  rob  Europe  of  its  pride  of  chivalry.  Burgundy  of 
its  prince,  and  Flanders  of  her  father  ?  No  !  Away  with  these 
miscreants,  soldiers  —  down  to  the  lowest  dungeons  with  them 
—  keep  them  separate,  and  watch  them  carefully.  This  trea- 
sonable practice  has  been  meditated  with  the  connivance  of 
Berne  and  Soleure.' 


ANNE  OP  GEIERSTEIN  Itl 

Thus  Sir  Archibald  de  Hagenbach  raved,  with  a  raised  voice 
and  inflamed  countenance,  lashing  himself  as  it  were  into 
passion,  until  the  steps  of  the  soldiers,  and  the  clash  of  their 
arms,  as  they  retired  with  the  prisoners,  were  no  longer  audible. 
His  complexion,  when  these  had  ceased,  waxed  paler  than  was 
natural  to  him,  his  brow  was  furrowed  with  anxious  wrinkles, 
and  his  voice  became  lower  and  more  hesitating  than  ordinary, 
as,  turning  to  his  esquire,  he  said,  '  Kilian,  we  stand  upon  a 
slippery  plank,  with  a  raging  torrent  beneath  us.  What  is  to 
be  done  1 ' 

'  Marry,  to  move  forward  with  a  resolved  yet  prudent  step,* 
answered  the  crafty  Kilian.  *  It  is  unlucky  that  all  these 
fellows  should  have  seen  the  packet,  and  heard  the  appeal  of 
yonder  iron-nerved  trader.  But  this  ill-luck  has  befallen  us, 
and  the  packet  having  been  in  your  Excellency's  hands,  you  will 
have  all  the  credit  of  having  broken  the  seals ;  for,  though  you 
leave  them  as  entire  as  the  moment  they  were  impressed,  it 
will  only  be  supposed  they  have  been  ingeniously  replaced. 
Let  us  see  what  are  the  contents,  before  we  determine  what  is 
to  be  done  with  them.  They  must  be  of  rare  value,  since  the 
churl  merchant  was  well  contented  to  leave  behind  all  his  rich 
mule's-load  of  merchandise,  so  that  this  precious  packet  might 
pass  unexamined.' 

'  They  may  be  papers  on  some  political  matter.  Many  such, 
and  of  high  importance,  pass  secretly  between  Edward  of 
England  and  our  bold  Duke.'  Such  was  the  reply  of  De 
Hagenbach. 

*  If  they  be  papers  of  consequence  to  the  Duke,'  answered 
Kilian,  '  we  can  forward  them  to  Dijon.  Or  they  may  be  such 
as  Louis  of  France  would  purchase  with  their  weight  of  gold.' 

'For  shame,  Kilian,'  said  the  knight;  *wouldst  thou  have 
me  betray  my  master's  secrets  to  the  King  of  France  ?  Sooner 
would  I  lay  my  head  on  the  block.' 

'  Indeed  !     And  yet  your  Excellency  hesitates  not  to ' 

Here  the  squire  stopped,  apparently  for  fear  of  giving  offence, 
by  affixing  a  name  too  broad  and  intelligible  to  the  practices  of 
his  patron. 

'To  plunder  the  Duke,  thou  wouldst  say,  thou  impudent 
slave !  And,  saying  so,  thou  wouldst  be  as  duU  as  thou  art 
wont  to  be,'  answered  De  Hagenbach.  '  I  partake,  indeed,  in 
the  plunder  which  the  Duke  takes  from  aliens;  and  reason 
good.  Even  so  the  hound  and  the  hawk  have  their  share  of 
the  quarry  they  bring  down  —  ay,  and  the  Kon's  share,  too, 


172  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

unless  the  huntsman  or  falconer  be  all  the  nearer  to  them. 
Such  are  the  perquisites  of  my  rank  ;  and  the  Duke,  who  placed 
me  here  for  the  gratification  of  his  resentment,  and  the  better- 
ing of  my  fortune,  does  not  grudge  them  to  a  faithful  servant. 
And,  indeed,  I  may  term  myself,  in  so  far  as  this  territory  of 
La  Ferette  extends,  the  Duke's  full  representative,  or,  as  it 
may  be  termed,  alter  ego;  and,  thereupon,  I  will  open  this 
packet,  which,  being  addressed  to  him,  is  thereby  equally 
addressed  to  me.' 

Having  thus  in  a  manner  talked  himself  up  to  an  idea  of 
his  own  high  authority,  he  cut  the  strings  of  the  packet,  which 
he  had  all  this  while  held  in  his  hand,  and,  undoing  the  outer 
coverings,  produced  a  very  small  case  made  of  sandalwood. 

'  The  contents,'  he  said,  'had  need  to  be  valuable,  as  they  lie 
in  so  little  compass. ' 

So  saying,  he  pressed  the  spring,  and  the  casket,  opening, 
displayed  a  necklace  of  diamonds,  distinguished  by  brilliancy 
and  size,  and  apparently  of  extraordinary  value.  The  eyes  of 
the  avaricious  governor,  and  his  no  less  rapacious  attendant, 
were  so  dazzled  with  the  unusual  splendour,  that  for  some 
time  they  could  express  nothing  save  joy  and  surprise. 

'  Ay,  marry,  sir,'  said  Kilian,  '  the  obstinate  old  knave  had 
reasons  for  his  hardihood.  My  own  joints  should  have  stood 
a  strain  or  two  ere  I  surrendered  such  sparklers  as  these.  And 
now.  Sir  Archibald,  may  your  trusty  follower  ask  you  how  this 
booty  is  to  be  divided  between  the  Duke  and  his  governor, 
according  to  the  most  approved  rules  of  garrison  towns  ? ' 

'  Faith,  we  will  suppose  the  garrison  stormed,  Kilian ;  and 
in  a  storm,  thou  know'st,  the  first  finder  takes  all  —  with  due 
consideration  always  of  his  trusty  followers.' 

*  As  myself,  for  example,'  said  Kilian. 

*Ay,  and  myself,  for  example,'  answered  a  voice,  which 
sounded  like  the  echo  of  the  esquire's  words,  fi*om  the  remote 
comer  of  the  ancient  apartment. 

*  'Sdeath  !  we  are  overheard,'  exclaimed  the  governor,  starting 
and  laying  his  hand  on  his  dagger. 

'Only  by  a  faithful  follower,  as  the  worthy  esquire  observes,' 
said  the  executioner,  moving  slowly  forward. 

*  Villain,  how  didst  thou  dare  watch  me  1 '  said  Sir  Archibald 
de  Hagenbach. 

'Trouble  not  yourself  for  that,  sir,'  said  Kilian.  'Honest 
Steinernherz  has  no  tongue  to  speak,  or  ear  to  hear,  save 
according  to  your  pleasure.     Indeed,  we  must  shortly  have 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  178 

taken  him  into  our  counsels,  seeing  these  men  must  be  dealt 
upon,  and  that  speedily.' 

'  Indeed  ! '  said  De  Hagenbach  ;  '  I  had  thought  they  might 
be  spared.' 

'  To  tell  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  how  the  governor  of  La 
Ferette  accounts  to  his  treasurer  for  the  duties  and  forfeitures 
at  his  custom-house  ? '  demanded  Kilian. 

"T  is  true,'  said  the  knight ;  '  dead  men  have  neither  teeth 
nor  tongue  :  they  bite  not  and  they  tell  no  tales.  Thou  wilt 
take  order  with  them,  scharfgerichter.' 

'  I  will,  my  lord,'  answered  the  executioner,  *  on  condition 
that,  if  this  must  be  in  the  way  of  dungeon  execution,  which 
I  call  cellar  practice,  my  privilege  to  claim  nobility  shall  be 
saved  and  reserved  to  me,  and  the  execution  shall  be  declared 
to  be  as  effectual  to  my  claim  as  it  might  have  been  if  the 
blow  had  been  dealt  in  broad  daylight,  with  my  honourable 
blade  of  office.' 

De  Hagenbach  stared  at  the  executioner,  as  not  under- 
standing what  he  meant ;  on  which  Kilian  took  occasion  to 
explain  that  the  scharfgerichter  was  strongly  impressed,  from 
the  free  and  dauntless  conduct  of  the  elder  prisoner,  that  he 
was  a  man  of  noble  blood,  from  whose  decapitation  he  would 
himself  derive  all  the  advantages  proposed  to  the  headsman 
who  should  execute  his  function  on  nine  men  of  illustrious 
extraction. 

'He  may  be  right,'  said  Sir  Archibald,  'for  here  is  a  slip 
of  parchment  commending  the  bearer  of  this  carcanet  to  the 
Duke,  desiring  him  to  accept  it  as  a  true  token  from  one  well 
known  to  him,  and  to  give  the  bearer  full  credence  in  all  that 
he  should  say  on  the  part  of  those  by  whom  he  is  sent.' 

'  By  whom  is  the  note  signed,  if  I  may  make  bold  to  ask  ? ' 
said  Kilian. 

'  There  is  no  name :  the  Duke  must  be  supposed  to  collect 
that  information  from  the  gems,  or  perhaps  the  handwriting.' 

'  On  neither  of  which  he  is  likely  to  have  a  speedy  oppor- 
tunity of  exercising  his  ingenuity,'  said  Kilian. 

De  Hagenbach  looked  at  the  diamonds,  and  smiled  darkly. 
The  scharfgerichter,  encouraged  by  the  familiarity  into  which 
he  had  in  a  manner  forced  himself,  returned  to  his  plea,  and 
insisted  on  the  nobility  of  the  supposed  merchant.  Such  a 
trust,  and  such  a  letter  of  unlimited  credence,  could  never,  he 
contended,  be  entrusted  to  a  man  meanly  born.^ 

^  See  Louis  XL's  Ministers.    Note  2. 


174  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  Thou  art  deceived,  thou  fool/  said  the  kuight :  *  kings  now 
use  the  lowest  tools  to  do  their  dearest  offices.  Louis  has  set 
the  example  of  putting  his  barber  and  the  valets  of  his  chamber 
to  do  the  work  formerly  entrusted  to  dukes  and  peers ;  and 
other  monarchs  begin  to  think  that  it  is  better,  in  choosing 
their  agents  for  important  affairs,  to  judge  rather  by  the 
quality  of  men's  brains  than  that  of  their  blood.  And  as  for 
tne  stately  look  and  bold  bearing  which  distinguish  yonder 
fellow  in  the  eyes  of  cravens  like  thee,  it  belongs  to  his  country, 
not  his  rank.  Thou  think'st  it  is  in  England  as  in  Flanders, 
where  a  city-bred  burgher  of  Ghent,  Liege,  or  Ypres  is  as  dis- 
tinct an  animal  from  a  knight  of  Hainault  as  a  Flanders 
waggon  horse  from  a  Spanish  jennet.  But  thou  art  deceived. 
England  has  many  a  merchant  as  haughty  of  heart  and  as 
prompt  of  hand  as  any  noble- bom  son  of  her  rich  bosom. 
But  be  not  dejected,  thou  foolish  man ;  do  thy  business  well 
on  this  merchant,  and  we  shall  presently  have  on  our  hands 
the  Landamman  of  Unterwalden,  who,  tnough  a  churl  by  his 
choice,  is  yet  a  nobleman  by  blood,  and  shall,  by  his  well- 
deserved  death,  aid  thee  to  get  rid  of  the  peasant  slough  which 
thou  art  so  weary  of 

*  Were  not  your  Excellency  better  adjourn  these  men's  fate,' 
said  Kilian,  *  till  you  hear  something  of  them  from  the  Swiss 
prisoners  whom  we  shall  presently  have  in  our  power  ? ' 

'  Be  it  as  you  will,'  said  Hagenbach,  waving  his  hand,  as  if 
putting  aside  some  disagreeable  task.  *  But  let  all  be  finished 
ere  I  hear  of  it  again.' 

The  stem  satellites  bowed  obedience,  and  the  deadly  con- 
clave broke  up,  their  chief  carefully  securing  the  valuable 
gems,  which  he  was  willing  to  purchase  at  the  expense  of 
treachery  to  the  sovereign  in  whose  emplo3maent  he  had  en- 
listed himself,  as  well  as  the  blood  of  two  innocent  men.  Yet, 
with  a  weakness  of  mind  not  uncommon  to  great  criminals,  he 
shrank  from  the  thoughts  of  his  own  baseness  and  cruelty,  and 
endeavoured  to  banish  the  feeling  of  dishonour  from  his  mind, 
by  devolving  the  immediate  execution  of  his  villainy  upon  his 
subordinate  agents. 


CHAPTER  XV 

And  this  place  our  forefathers  built  for  man  ! 

Old  Flay. 

THE  dungeon  in  which  the  younger  Philipson  was  im- 
mured was  one  of  those  gloomy  caverns  which  cry 
shame  on  the  inhumanity  of  our  ancestors.  They 
seem  to  have  been  almost  insensible  to  the  distinction  betwixt 
innocence  and  guilt,  as  the  consequences  of  mere  accusation 
must  have  been  far  more  severe  in  those  days  than  is  in  our 
own  that  species  of  imprisonment  which  is  adjudged  as  an 
express  punishment  for  crime. 

The  cell  of  Arthur  Philipson  was  of  considerable  length,  but 
dark  and  narrow,  and  dug  out  of  the  solid  rock  upon  which 
the  tower  was  founded.  A  small  lamp  was  allowed  him,  not, 
however,  without  some  grumbling,  but  his  arms  were  still  kept 
bound ;  and  when  he  asked  for  a  draught  of  water,  one  of  the 
grim  satellites  by  whom  he  was  thrust  into  this  cell  answered 
surlily,  that  he  might  endure  his  thirst  for  all  the  time  his  life 
was  likely  to  last  —  a  gloomy  response,  which  augured  that  his 
privations  would  continue  as  long  as  his  life,  yet  neither  be  of 
long  duration.  By  the  dim  lamp  he  had  groped  his  way  to  a 
bench,  or  rough  seat,  cut  in  the  rock ;  and,  as  his  eyes  got 
gradually  accustomed  to  the  obscurity  of  the  region  in  which  he 
was  immured,  he  became  aware  of  a  ghastly  cleft  in  the  floor  of 
his  dungeon,  somewhat  resembling  the  opening  of  a  draw-well, 
but  irregular  in  its  aperture,  and  apparently  the  mouth  of  a 
gulf  of  nature's  conformation,  slightly  assisted  by  the  labour  of 
human  art. 

'Here,  then,  is  my  death-bed,'  he  said,  *and  that  gulf  per- 
haps the  grave  which  yawns  for  my  remains !  Nay,  I  have 
heard  of  prisoners  being  plunged  into  such  horrid  abysses  while 
they  were  yet  alive,  to  die  at  leisure,  crushed  with  wounds, 
their  groans  unheard,  and  their  fete  unpitied.' 


176  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

He  approached  his  head  to  the  dismal  cavity,  and  heard,  as 
at  a  great  depth,  the  sound  of  a  sullen,  and,  as  it  seemed, 
subterranean  stream.  The  sunless  waves  appeared  murmuring 
for  their  victim.  Death  is  dreadful  at  aU  ages;  but  in  the 
first  springtide  of  youth,  with  all  the  feelings  of  enjoyment 
afloat  and  eager  for  gratification,  to  be  snatched  forcibly  fi-om 
the  banquet  to  which  the  individual  has  but  just  sat  down  is 
peculiarly  appalling,  even  when  the  change  comes  in  the  ordi- 
nary course  of  nature.  But  to  sit,  like  young  Philipson,  on 
the  brink  of  the  subterranean  abyss,  and  ruminate  in  horrid 
doubt  concerning  the  mode  in  which  death  was  to  be  inflicted, 
was  a  situation  which  might  break  the  spirit  of  the  boldest; 
and  the  unfortunate  captive  was  wholly  unable  to  suppress  the 
natural  tears  that  flowed  from  his  eyes  in  torrents,  and  which 
his  bound  arms  did  not  permit  him  to  wipe  away.  "We  have 
already  noticed  that,  although  a  gallant  young  man  in  aught 
of  danger  which  was  to  be  faced  and  overcome  by  active 
exertion,  the  youth  was  strongly  imaginative,  and  sensitive  to 
a  powerful  extent  to  all  those  exaggerations  which,  in  a  situa- 
tion of  helpless  uncertainty,  fancy  lends  to  distract  the  soul  of 
him  who  must  passively  expect  an  approaching  evil. 

Yet  the  feelings  of  Arthur  Philipson  were  not  selfish.  They 
reverted  to  his  father,  whose  just  and  noble  character  was  as 
much  formed  to  attract  veneration  as  his  unceasing  paternal 
care  and  aff'ection  to  excite  love  and  gratitude.  He,  too,  was 
in  the  hands  of  remorseless  villains,  who  were  determined  to 
conceal  robbery  by  secret  murder;  he,  too,  undaunted  in  so 
many  dangers,  resolute  in  so  many  encounters,  lay  bound  and 
defenceless,  exposed  to  the  dagger  of  the  meanest  stabber. 
Arthur  remembered,  too,  the  giddy  peak  of  the  rock  near 
Geierstein,  and  the  grim  vulture  which  claimed  him  as  its  prey. 
Here  was  no  angel  to  burst  through  the  mist,  and  marshal  him 
on  a  path  of  safety ;  here  the  darkness  was  subterranean  and 
eternal,  saving  when  the  captive  should  behold  the  knife  of 
the  rufiian  flash  against  the  lamp,  which  lent  him  light  to 
aim  the  fatal  blow.  This  agony  of  mind  lasted  until  the  feel- 
ings of  the  unhappy  prisoner  arose  to  ecstasy.  He  started 
up,  and  struggled  so  hard  to  free  himself  of  his  bonds,  that 
it  seemed  they  should  have  fallen  from  him  as  from  the  arms 
of  the  mighty  Nazarene.  But  the  cords  were  of  too  firm 
a  texture;  and,  after  a  violent  and  unavailing  struggle,  in 
which  the  ligatures  seemed  to  enter  his  flesh,  the  prisoner  lost 
his  balance,  and,  while  the  feeling  thrilled  through  him  that  he 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  177 

was  tumbling  backward  into  the  subterranean  abyss,  he  fell 
to  the  ground  with  great  force. 

Fortunately  he  escaped  the  danger  which  in  his  agony  he 
apprehended,  but  so  narrowly,  that  his  head  struck  against  the 
low  and  broken  fence  with  which  the  mouth  of  the  horrible  pit 
was  partly  surrounded.  Here  he  lay  stunned  and  motionless, 
and,  as  the  lamp  was  extinguished  in  his  fall,  immersed  in 
absolute  and  total  darkness.  He  was  recalled  to  sensation  by 
a  jarring  noise. 

'  They  come  —  they  come,  the  murderers !  Oh,  Lady  of 
Mercy  !  and  oh,  gracious  Heaven,  forgive  my  transgressions  ! ' 

He  looked  up,  and  observed  with  dazzled  eyes  that  a  dark 
form  approached  him,  with  a  knife  in  one  hand  and  a  torch  in 
the  other.  He  might  well  have  seemed  the  man  who  was  to 
do  the  last  deed  upon  the  unhappy  prisoner,  if  he  had  come 
alone.  But  he  came  not  alone  :  his  torch  gleamed  upon  the 
white  dress  of  a  female,  which  was  so  much  illuminated  by  it, 
that  Arthur  could  discover  a  form,  and  had  even  a  glimpse  of 
features,  never  to  be  forgotten,  though  now  seen  under  circum- 
stances least  of  all  to  be  expected.  The  prisoner's  unutterable 
astonishment  impressed  him  with  a  degree  of  awe  which  over- 
came even  his  personal  fear.  '  Can  these  things  be  ? '  was  his 
muttered  reflection  — '  has  she  really  the  power  of  an  elementary 
spirit?  —  has  she  conjured  up  this  earthlike  and  dark  demon  to 
concur  with  her  in  my  deliverance  ? ' 

It  appeared  as  if  his  guess  were  real;  for  the  figure  in 
black,  giving  the  light  to  Anne  of  Geierstein,  or. at  least  the 
form  which  bore  her  perfect  resemblance,  stooped  over  the 
prisoner,  and  cut  the  cord  that  bound  his  arms,  with  so  much 
despatch  that  it  seemed  as  if  it  fell  from  his  person  at  a  touch. 
Arthur's  first  attempt  to  arise  was  unsuccessful,  and  a  second 
time  it  was  the  hand  of  Anne  of  Geierstein  —  a  living  hand, 
sensible  to  touch  as  to  sight  —  which  aided  to  raise  and  to 
support  him,  as  it  had  formerly  done  when  the  tormented 
waters  of  the  river  thundered  at  their  feet.  Her  touch  pro- 
duced an  effect  far  beyond  that  of  the  slight  personal  aid 
which  the  maiden's  strength  could  have  rendered.  Courage 
was  restored  to  his  heart,  vigour  and  animation  to  his  be- 
numbed and  bruised  limbs;  such  influence  does  the  human 
mind,  when  excited  to  energy,  possess  over  the  infirmities  of 
the  human  body.  He  was  about  to  address  Anne  in  accents  of 
the  deepest  gratitude ;  but  the  accents  died  away  on  his  tongue 
when  the  mysterious  female,  laying  her  finger  on  her  lips, 

VOL.  XXIII 12 


178  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

made  him  a  sign  to  be  silent,  and  at  the  same  time  beckoned 
him  to  follow  her.  He  obeyed  in  silent  amazement.  They 
passed  the  entrance  of  the  melancholy  dungeon,  and  through 
one  or  two  short  but  intricate  passages,  which,  cut  out  of  the 
rock  in  some  places,  and  built  in  others  with  hewn  stone  of  the 
same  kind,  probably  led  to  holds  similar  to  that  in  which  Arthur 
was  so  lately  a  captive. 

The  recollection  that  his  father  might  be  immured  in  some 
such  horrid  cell  as  he  himself  had  just  quitted  induced  Arthur 
to  pause  as  they  reached  the  bottom  of  a  small  winding 
staircase,  which  conducted  apparently  from  this  region  of  the 
building. 

'  Come,'  he  said,  *  dearest  Anne,  lead  me  to  his  deliverance ! 
I  must  not  leave  my  father.' 

She  shook  her  head  impatiently,  and  beckoned  him  on. 

'  If  your  power  extends  not  to  save  my  father's  life,  I  will 
remain  and  save  him  or  die  !     Anne  —  dearest  Anne ' 

She  answered  not;  but  her  companion  replied,  in  a  deep 
voice,  not  unsuitable  to  his  appearance,  *  Speak,  young  man,  to 
those  who  are  permitted  to  answer  you ;  or  rather  be  silent, 
and  listen  to  my  instructions,  which  direct  to  the  only  course 
which  can  bring  thy  father  to  freedom  and  safety.' 

They  ascended  the  stair,  Anne  of  Geierstein  going  first; 
while  Arthur,  who  followed  close  behind,  could  not  help 
thinking  that  her  form  gave  existence  to  a  part  of  the  light 
which  her  garment  reflected  from  the  torch.  This  was  prob- 
ably the  effect  of  the  superstitious  belief  impressed  on  his 
mind  by  Rudoph's  tale  respecting  her  mother,  and  which  was 
confirmed  by  her  sudden  appearance  in  a  place  and  situation 
where  she  was  so  little  to  have  been  expected.  He  had  not 
much  time,  however,  to  speculate  upon  her  appearance  or 
demeanour,  for,  mounting  the  stair  with  a  lighter  pace  than  he 
was  able  at  the  time  to  follow  closely,  she  was  no  longer  to  be 
seen  when  he  reached  the  landing-place.  But  whether  she  had 
melted  into  the  air,  or  turned  aside  into  some  other  passage,  he 
was  not  permitted  a  moment's  leisure  to  examine. 
^  *  Here  lies  your  way,'  said  his  sable  guide ;  and  at  the  same 
time  dashing  out  the  light  and  seizing  Philipson  by  the  arm, 
he  led  him  along  a  dark  gallery  of  considerable  length.  The 
voung  man  was  not  without  some  momentary  misgivings,  while 
he  recollected  the  ominous  looks  of  his  conductor,  and  that  he 
was  armed  with  a  dagger,  or  knife,  which  he  could  plunge  of  a 
sudden  into  bis  bosom.    But  he  could  not  bring  himself  to 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  179 

dread  treachery  from  any  one  whom  he  had  seen  in  company 
with  Anne  of  Geierstein ;  and  in  his  heart  he  demanded  her 
pardon  for  the  fear  which  had  flashed  across  him,  and  resigned 
himself  to  the  guidance  of  his  companion,  who  advanced  with 
hasty  but  light  footsteps,  and  cautioned  him  by  a  whisper  to  do 
the  same. 

'  Our  journey,'  he  at  length  said,  *  ends  here.' 

As  he  spoke,  a  door  gave  way  and  admitted  them  into  a 
gloomy  Gothic  apartment,  furnished  with  large  oaken  presses, 
apparently  filled  with  books  and  manuscripts.  As  Arthur 
looked  round,  with  eyes  dazzled  with  the  sudden  gleam  of  day- 
light, from  which  he  had  been  for  some  time  excluded,  the  door 
by  which  they  had  entered  disappeared.  This,  however,  did  not 
greatly  surprise  him,  who  judged  that,  being  formed  in  appear- 
ance to  correspond  with  the  presses  around  the  entrance  which 
they  had  used,  it  could  not  when  shut  be  distinguished  from 
them  —  a  device  sometimes  then  practised,  as  indeed  it  often  is 
at  the  present  day.  He  had  now  a  full  view  of  his  deliverer, 
who,  when  seen  by  daylight,  showed  only  the  vestments  and 
features  of  a  clergyman,  without  any  of  that  expression  of 
supernatural  horror  which  the  partial  light  and  the  melancholy 
appearance  of  all  in  the  dungeon  had  combined  to  impress  on 
him. 

Young  Philipson  once  more  breathed  with  freedom,  as  one 
awakened  from  a  hideous  dream ;  and  the  supernatural  qualities 
with  which  his  imagination  had  invested  Anne  of  Geierstein 
having  begun  to  vanish,  he  addressed  his  deliverer  thus  — 
*  That  I  may  testify  my  thanks,  holy  father,  where  they  are  so 
especially  due,  let  me  inquire  of  you  if  Anne  of  Geierstein ' 

'  Speak  of  that  which  pertains  to  your  house  and  family,* 
answered  the  priest,  as  briefly  as  before.  *  Hast  thou  so  soon 
forgot  thy  father's  danger  ? ' 

'  By  Heavens,  no  ! '  replied  the  youth  ;  *  tell  me  but  how  to 
act  for  his  deliverance,  and  thou  shalt  see  how  a  son  can  fight 
for  a  parent ! ' 

'  It  is  well,  for  it  is  needful,'  said  the  priest.  '  Don  thou 
this  vestment,  and  follow  me.' 

The  vestment  presented  was  the  gown  and  hood  of  a  novice. 

*  Draw  the  cowl  over  thy  face,'  said  the  priest,  '  and  return 
no  answer  to  any  man  who  meets  thee.  I  will  say  thou  art 
under  a  vow.  May  Heaven  forgive  the  unworthy  tyrant  who 
imposes  on  us  the  necessity  of  such  profane  dissimulation  I 
Follow  me  close  and  near ;  beware  that  you  speak  not.' 


180  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

The  business  of  disguise  was  soon  accomplished,  and  the 
priest  of  St.  Paul's,  for  such  he  was,  moving  on,  Arthur  fol- 
lowed him  a  pace  or  two  behind,  assuming  as  well  as  he  could 
the  modest  step  and  humble  demeanour  of  a  spiritual  novice. 
On  leaving  the  library,  or  study,  and  descending  a  short  stair, 
he  found  himself  in  the  street  of  Brisach.  Irresistibly  tempted 
to  look  back,  he  had  only  time,  however,  to  see  that  the  house 
he  had  left  was  a  very  small  building  of  a  Gothic  character,  on 
the  one  side  of  which  rose  the  church  of  St.  Paul's,  and  on  the 
other  the  stern  black  gate-house,  or  entrance-tower. 

*  Follow  me,  Melchior,'  said  the  deep  voice  of  the  priest ; 
and  his  keen  eyes  were  at  the  same  time  fixed  upon  the  sup- 
posed novice,  with  a  look  which  instantly  recalled  Arthur  to 
a  sense  of  his  situation. 

They  passed  along,  nobody  noticing  them,  unless  to  greet 
the  priest  with  a  silent  obeisance,  or  muttered  phrase  of  saluta- 
tion, until,  having  nearly  gained  the  middle  of  the  village,  the 
guide  turned  abruptly  off  from  the  street,  and,  moving  north- 
ward by  a  short  lane,  reached  a  flight  of  steps,  which,  as  usual 
in  fortified  towns,  led  to  the  banquette,  or  walk  behind  the 
parapet,  which  was  of  the  old  Gothic  fashion,  flanked  with 
towers  fi-om  space  to  space,  of  difierent  forms  and  various 
heights  at  different  angles. 

There  were  sentinels  on  the  walls ;  but  the  watch,  as  it 
seemed,  was  kept  not  by  regular  soldiers,  but  by  burghers,  with 
spears  or  swords  in  their  hands.  The  first  whom  they  passed 
said  to  the  priest,  in  a  half- whispered  tone,  *  Holds  our  purpose  ? ' 

*  It  holds,'  replied  the  priest  of  St.  Paul's.     '  Benedicite  1 ' 

*  Deo  gratias  I '  replied  the  armed  citizen,  and  continued  his 
walk  upon  the  battlements. 

The  other  sentinels  seemed  to  avoid  them ;  for  they  dis- 
appeared when  they  came  near,  or  passed  them  without  looking 
or  seeming  to  observe  them.  At  last  their  walk  brought  them 
to  an  ancient  turret,  which  raised  its  head  above  the  wall,  and 
in  which  there  was  a  small  door  opening  fi-om  the  battlement. 
It  was  in  a  corner,  distinct  fi*om  and  uncommanded  by  any  of 
the  angles  of  the  fortification.  In  a  well-guarded  fortress,  such 
a  point  ought  to  have  had  a  sentinel  for  its  special  protection, 
but  no  one  was  there  upon  duty. 

*  Now  mark  me,'  said  the  priest,  *  for  your  father's  life,  and, 
it  may  be,  that  of  many  a  man  besides,  depends  upon  your 
attention,  and  no  less  upon  your  despatch.  You  can  run  1  —  you 
can  leap  \ ' 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  181 

'I  feel  no  weariness,  father,  since  yon  freed  me,'  answered 
Arthur;  *and  the  dun  deer  that  I  have  often  chased  shall  not 
beat  me  in  such  a  wager.' 

'Observe,  then,'  replied  the  black  priest  of  St.  Paul's,  'this 
turret  contains  a  staircase,  which  descends  to  a  small  sally-port. 
I  will  give  you  entrance  to  it.  The  sally-port  is  barred  on  the 
inside,  but  not  locked.  It  will  give  you  access  to  the  moat, 
which  is  almost  entirely  dry.  On  crossing  it,  you  will  find 
yourself  in  the  circuit  of  the  outer  barriers.  You  may  see 
sentinels,  but  they  will  not  see  you ;  speak  not  to  them,  but 
make  your  way  over  the  palisade  as  you  can.  I  trust  you  can 
climb  over  an  undefended  rampart  t ' 

'  I  have  surmounted  a  defended  one,'  said  Arthur.  '  What 
is  my  next  charge?    All  this  is  easy.' 

'  You  will  see  a  species  of  thicket,  or  stretch  of  low  bushes ; 
make  for  it  with  all  speed.  When  you  are  there,  turn  to  the 
eastward ;  but  beware,  while  holding  that  course,  that  you  are 
not  seen  by  the  Burgundian  Free  Companions,  who  are  on 
watch  on  that  part  of  the  walls.  A  volley  of  arrows,  and  the 
sally  of  a  body  of  cavalry  in  pursuit,  will  be  the  consequence, 
if  they  get  sight  of  you  ;  and  their  eyes  are  those  of  the  eagle, 
that  spy  the  carnage  afar  oif.' 

*I  will  be  heedful,'  said  the  young  Englishman. 

*You  will  find,'  continued  the  priest,  'upon  the  outer  side 
of  the  thicket  a  path,  or  rather  a  sheep -track,  which,  sweeping 
at  some  distance  from  the  walls,  will  conduct  you  at  last  into 
the  road  leading  from  Brisach  to  Bale.  Hasten  forward  to  meet 
the  Swiss,  who  are  advancing.  Tell  them  your  father's  hours 
are  counted,  and  that  they  must  press  on  if  they  would  save 
him ;  and  say  to  Rudolph  Donnerhugel,  in  especial,  that  the 
black  priest  of  St.  Paul's  waits  to  bestow  upon  him  his  blessing 
at  the  northern  sally-port.     Dost  thou  understand  me  ? ' 

'Perfectly,'  answered  the  young  man. 

The  priest  of  St.  Paul's  then  pushed  open  the  low-browed 
gate  of  the  turret,  and  Arthur  was  about  to  precipitate  himself 
down  the  stair  which  opened  before  him. 

'  Stay  yet  a  moment,'  said  the  priest,  '  and  doff  the  novice's 
habit,  which  can  only  encumber  thee.' 

Arthur  in  a  trice  threw  it  from  him,  and  was  again  about  to 
start. 

'Stay  yet  a  moment  longer,'  continued  the  black  priest. 
*  This  gown  may  be  a  tell-tale ;  stay,  therefore,  and  help  me  to 
pull  off  my  upper  garment.' 


182  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

Inwardly  glowing  with  impatience,  Arthur  yet  saw  the 
necessity  of  obeying  his  guide ;  and  when  he  had  pulled  the 
long  and  loose  upper  vestment  from  the  old  man,  he  stood 
before  him  in  a  cassock  of  black  serge,  befitting  his  order 
and  profession,  but  begirt,  not  with  a  suitable  sash  such  as 
clergymen  wear,  but  with  a  most  uncanonical  buff-belt,  sup- 
porting a  short  two-edged  sword,  calculated  alike  to  stab  and 
to  smita 

'  Give  me  now  the  novice's  habit,'  said  the  venerable  father, 
*  and  over  that  I  will  put  the  priestly  vestment.  Since  for  the 
present  I  have  some  tokens  of  the  laity  about  me,  it  is  fitting 
it  should  be  covered  with  a  double  portion  of  the  clerical  habit.' 

As  he  spoke  thus  he  smiled  grimly ;  and  his  smile  had  some- 
thing more  frightful  and  withering  than  the  stern  frown,  which 
suited  better  with  his  features,  and  was  their  usual  expression. 

'  And  now,'  said  he,  '  what  does  the  fool  tarry  for,  when  life 
and  death  are  in  his  speed  1 ' 

The  young  messenger  waited  not  a  second  hint,  but  at  once 
descended  the  stairs,  as  if  it  had  been  by  a  single  step,  found 
the  portal,  as  the  priest  had  said,  only  secured  by  bars  on  the 
inside,  offering  little  resistance  save  from  their  rusted  state, 
which  made  it  difficult  to  draw  them.  Arthur  succeeded, 
however,  and  found  himself  at  the  side  of  the  moat,  which 
presented  a  green  and  marshy  appearance.  Without  stopping 
to  examine  whether  it  was  deep  or  shallow,  and  almost  without 
being  sensible  of  the  tenacity  of  the  morass,  the  young  English- 
man forced  his  way  through  it,  and  attained  the  opposite  side, 
without  attracting  the  attention  of  two  worthy  burghers  of 
Brisach,  who  were  the  guardians  of  the  barriers.  One  of  them, 
indeed,  was  deeply  employed  in  the  perusal  of  some  profane 
chronicle  or  religious  legend ;  the  other  was  as  anxiously  en- 
gaged in  examining  the  margin  of  the  moat,  in  search  of  eels, 
perhaps,  or  frogs,  for  he  wore  over  his  shoulder  a  scrip  for 
securing  some  such  amphibious  booty. 

Seeing  that,  as  the  priest  foretold,  he  had  nothing  to  appre- 
hend from  the  vigilance  of  the  sentinels,  Arthur  dashed  at  the 
palisade,  in  hope  to  catch  hold  of  the  top  of  the  stockade,  and 
so  to  clear  it  by  one  bold  leap.  He  overrated  his  powers  of 
activity,  however,  or  they  were  diminished  by  his  recent  bonds 
and  imprisonment.  ^  He  fell  lightly  backward  on  the  ground, 
and,  as  he  got  to  his  feet,  became  aware  of  the  presence  of  a 
soldier,  in  j^ellow  and  blue,  the  livery  of  De  Hagenbach,  who 
came  runnmg  towards  him,  crying  to  the   slothful  and  un- 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  183 

observant  sentinels,  *  Alarm  —  alarm  !  you  lazy  swine !     Stop 
the  dog,  or  you  are  both  dead  men/ 

The  fisherman,  who  was  on  the  farther  side,  laid  down  his  eel- 
spear,  drew  his  sword,  and,  flourishing  it  over  his  head,  advanced 
towards  Philipson  with  very  moderate  haste.  The  student  was 
yet  more  unfortunate,  for,  in  his  hurry  to  fold  up  his  book 
and  attend  to  his  duty,  he  contrived  to  throw  himself  (inad- 
vertently, doubtless)  full  in  the  soldier's  way.  The  latter,  who 
was  running  at  top  speed,  encountered  the  burgher  with  a 
severe  shock,  which  threw  both  down ;  but  the  citizen,  being  a 
solid  and  substantial  man,  lay  still  where  he  feU,  while  the 
other,  less  weighty,  and  probably  less  prepared  for  the  collision, 
lost  his  balance  and  the  command  of  his  limbs  at  once,  and, 
rolling  over  the  edge  of  the  moat,  was  immersed  in  the  mud 
and  marsL  The  fisher  and  the  student  went  with  deliberate 
speed  to  assist  the  unexpected  and  unwelcome  partner  of  their 
watch;  while  Arthur,  stimulated  by  the  imminent  sense  of 
danger,  sprung  at  the  barrier  with  more  address  and  \agour 
than  before,  and,  succeeding  in  his  leap,  made,  as  he  had  been 
directed,  with  his  utmost  speed  for  the  covert  of  the  adjacent 
bushes.  He  reached  them  without  hearing  any  alarm  fi-om 
the  walls.  But  he  was  conscious  that  his  situation  had  become 
extremely  precarious,  since  his  escape  fi*om  the  town  was  known 
to  one  man,  at  least,  who  would  not  feil  to  give  the  alann  in 
case  he  was  able  to  extricate  himself  fi*om  the  marsh  —  a  feat, 
however,  in  which  it  seemed  to  Arthur  that  the  armed  citizens 
were  likely  to  prove  rather  his  apparent  than  actual  assistants. 
While  such  thoughts  shot  across  his  mind,  they  served  to  aug- 
ment his  natural  speed  of  foot,  so  that,  in  less  space  than  could 
have  been  thought  possible,  he  reached  the  thinner  extremity 
of  the  thicket,  whence,  as  intimated  by  the  black  priest,  he 
could  see  the  eastern  tower  and  the  adjoining  battlements  of 
the  town  — 

With  hostile  faces  throng'd,  and  fiery  arms. 

It  required,  at  the  same  time,  some  address  on  the  part  of 
the  fugitive  to  keep  so  much  under  shelter  as  to  prevent  him- 
self from  being  seen  in  his  turn  by  those  whom  he  saw  so 
plainly.  He  therefore  expected  every  moment  to  hear  a  bugle 
wind,  or  to  behold  that  bustle  and  commotion  among  the 
defenders  which  might  prognosticate  •  a  sally.  Neither,  how- 
ever, took  place,  and  heedfuUy  observing  the  footpath,  or  track, 
which  the  priest  had  pointed  out  to  him,  young  Philipson 


184  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

wheeled  his  course  out  of  sight  of  the  guarded  towers,  and  soon 
falling  into  the  public  and  frequented  road,  by  which  his  father 
and  he  had  approached  the  town  in  the  morning,  he  had  the 
happiness,  by  the  dust  and  flash  of  arms,  to  see  a  small  body 
of  armed  men  advancing  towards  Brisach,  whom  he  justly  con- 
cluded to  be  the  van  of  the  Swiss  deputation. 

He  soon  met  the  party,  which  consisted  of  about  ten  men, 
with  Rudolph  Donnerhugel  at  their  head.  The  figure  of  Philip- 
son,  covered  with  mud,  and  in  some  places  stained  with  blood, 
for  his  fall  in  the  dungeon  had  cost  him  a  slight  wound,  at- 
tracted the  wonder  of  every  one  who  crowded  around  to  hear 
the  news.  Rudolph  alone  appeared  unmoved.  Like  the  visage 
on  the  ancient  statues  of  Hercules,  the  physiognomy  of  the 
bulky  Bernese  was  large  and  massive,  having  an  air  of  indif- 
ferent and  almost  sullen  composure,  which  did  not  change  but 
in  moments  of  the  fiercest  agitation. 

He  listened  without  emotion  to  the  breathless  tale  of 
Arthur  Philipson,  that  his  father  was  in  prison,  and  adjudged 
to  death. 

'  And  what  else  did  you  expect  1 '  said  the  Bernese,  coldly. 
*  Were  you  not  warned  1  It  had  been  easy  to  have  foreseen 
the  misfortune,  but  it  may  be  impossible  to  prevent  it.' 

'I  own  —  I  own,'  said  Arthur,  wringing  his  hands,  '  that  you 
were  wise,  and  that  we  were  foolish.  But  oh  !  do  not  think  of 
our  folly  in  the  moment  of  our  extremity.  Be  the  gallant  and 
generous  champion  which  your  cantons  proclaim  you  :  give  us 
your  aid  in  this  deadly  strait.' 

'  But  how,  or  in  what  manner  ? '  said  Rudolph,  still  hesitat- 
ing. '  "We  have  dismissed  the  B^lese,  who  were  willing  to  have 
given  assistance,  so  much  did  your  dutiful  example  weigh  with 
us.  We  are  now  scarce  above  a  score  of  men ;  how  can  you 
ask  us  to  attack  a  garrison  town,  secured  by  fortifications,  and 
where  there  are  six  times  our  number  1 ' 

'You  have  friends  within  the  fortifications,'  replied  Arthur 
—  *  I  am  sure  you  have.  Hark  in  your  ear.  The  black  priest 
sent  to  you  —  to  you,  Rudolph  Donnerhugel  of  Berne  —  that  he 
waits  to  give  you  his  blessing  at  the  northern  sally-port.' 

'Ay,  doubtless,'  said  Rudolph,  shaking  himself  free  of 
Arthur's  attempt  to  engage  him  in  private  conference,  and 
speaking  so  that  all  around  might  hear  him,  '  there  is  little 
doubt  on  't :  I  will  find  a  priest  at  the  northern  sally-port  to 
confess  and  absolve  me,  and  a  block,  axe,  and  headsman  to 
strike  my  throat  asunder  when  he  has  done.     But  I  will  scarce 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  185 

put  the  neck  of  my  father's  son  into  such  risk.  If  they  as- 
sassinate an  English  pedlar  who  has  never  offended  them,  what 
will  they  do  with  the  Bear  of  Berne,  whose  fangs  and  talons 
Archibald  de  Hagenbach  has  felt  ere  nowl' 

Young  Philipson  at  these  words  clasped  his  hands  together, 
and  held  them  up  to  Heaven,  as  one  who  abandons  hope,  except- 
ing from  thence.  The  tears  started  to  his  eyes,  and,  clenching 
his  hands  and  setting  his  teeth,  he  turned  his  back  abruptly 
upon  the  Swiss. 

*  What  means  this  passion  ? '  said  Rudolph.  '  Whither  would 
you  now  ? ' 

'  To  rescue  my  father,  or  perish  with  him,'  said  Arthur ;  and 
was  about  to  run  wildly  back  to  La  Ferette,  when  a  strong  but 
kindly  grasp  detained  him. 

'  Tarry  a  little  till  I  tie  my  garter,'  said  Sigismund  Bieder- 
man,  '  and  I  will  go  with  you,  King  Arthur.' 

'You,  oaf?'  exclaimed  Rudolph  —  *you1  and  without 
orders  1 ' 

'Why,  look  you,  cousin  Rudolph,'  said  the  youth,  continu- 
ing, with  great  composure,  to  fasten  his  garter,  which,  after  the 
fashion  of  the  time,  was  somewhat  intricately  secured,  'you 
are  always  telling  us  that  we  are  Swiss  and  freemen  ;  and  what 
is  the  advantage  of  being  a  freeman,  if  one  is  not  at  liberty  to 
do  what  he  has  a  mind  1  You  are  my  hauptman,  look  you,  so 
long  as  it  pleases  me  and  no  longer.' 

'  And  why  shouldst  thou  desert  me  now,  thou  fool  ?  Why 
at  this  minute,  of  all  other  minutes  in  the  year  1 '  demanded 
the  Bernese. 

'  Look  you,'  replied  the  insubordinate  follower,  '  I  have 
hunted  with  Arthur  for  this  month  past,  and  I  love  him  :  he 
never  called  me  fool  or  idiot  because  my  thoughts  came  slower, 
maybe,  and  something  duller,  than  those  of  other  folk.  And  I 
love  his  father  :  the  old  man  gave  me  this  baldrick  and  this 
horn,  which  I  warrant  cost  many  a  kreutzer.  He  told  me,  too, 
not  to  be  discouraged,  for  that  it  was  better  to  think  justly 
than  to  think  fast,  and  that  I  had  sense  enough  for  the  one  if 
not  for  the  other.  And  the  kind  old  man  is  now  in  Hagen- 
bach's  butcher  shambles !  But  we  will  free  him,  Arthur,  if 
two  men  may.  Thou  shalt  see  me  fight  while  steel  blade  and 
ashen  shaft  will  hold  together.' 

So  saying,  he  shook  in  the  air  his  enormous  partizan,  which 
quivered  in  his  grasp  like  a  slip  of  willow.  Indeed,  if  iniquity 
was  to  be  struck  down  like  an  ox,  there  was  not  one  in  that 


186  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

chosen  band  more  likely  to  perform  the  feat  than  Sigismund  ; 
for,  though  somewhat  shorter  in  stature  than  his  brethren,  and 
of  a  less  animated  spirit,  yet  his  breadth  of  shoulders  and 
strength  of  muscles  were  enormous,  and  if  thoroughly  aroused 
and  disposed  for  the  contest,  which  was  very  rarely  the  case, 
perhaps  Rudolph  himself  might,  as  far  as  sheer  force  went, 
have  had  difficulty  in  matching  him. 

Truth  of  sentiment  and  energy  of  expression  always  produce 
an  effect  on  natural  and  generous  characters.  Several  of  the 
youths  around  began  to  exclaim  that  Sigismund  said  well ;  that, 
if  the  old  man  had  put  himself  in  danger,  it  was  because  he 
thought  more  of  the  success  of  their  negotiation  than  of  his 
own  safety,  and  had  taken  himself  from  under  their  protection 
rather  than  involve  them  in  quarrels  on  his  account.  'We 
are  the  more  bound,'  they  said,  'to  see  him  uijscathed,  and 
we  will  do  so.' 

'Peace !  all  you  wiseacres,'  said  Rudolph,  looking  round  with 
an  air  of  superiority ;  '  and  you,  Arthur  of  England,  pass  on  to 
the  Landamman,  who  is  close  behind;  you  know  he  is  our 
chief  commander,  he  is  no  less  your  father's  sincere  friend,  and, 
whatever  he  may  determine  in  your  father's  favour,  you  will 
find  most  ready  executors  of  his  pleasure  in  all  of  us.' 

His  companions  appeared  to  concur  in  this  advice,  and  young 
Philipson  saw  that  his  own  compliance  with  the  recommenda- 
tion was  indispensable.  Indeed,  although  he  still  suspected 
that  the  Bernese,  by  his  various  intrigues,  as  well  with  the 
Swiss  youth  as  with  those  of  B^le,  and,  as  might  be  inferred 
from  the  priest  of  St.  Paul's,  by  communication  even  within 
the  town  of  La  Ferette,  possessed  the  greater  power  of  assisting 
him  at  such  a  conjecture,  yet  he  trusted  far  more  in  the 
simple  candour  and  perfect  faith  of  Arnold  Bierderman,  and 
pressed  forward  to  tell  to  him  his  mournful  tale,  and  crave  his 
assistance. 

From  the  top  of  a  bank  which  he  reached  in  a  few  minutes 
after  he  parted  from  Rudolph  and  the  advanced  guard,  he  saw 
beneath  him  the  venerable  Landamman  and  his  associates, 
accompained  by  a  few  of  the  youths,  who  no  longer  were  dis- 
persed upon  the  flanks  of  the  party,  but  attended  on  them 
closely,  and  in  military  array,  as  men  prepared  to  repel  any 
sudden  attack. 

Behind  came  a  mule  or  two  with  baggage,  together  with  the 
animals  which,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  their  march,  supported 
Anne  of  Geierstein  and  her  attendant.     Both  were  occupied  by 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  187 

female  figures  as  usual,  and,  to  the  best  of  Arthur's  ken  the 
foremost  had  the  well-known  dress  of  Anne,  from  the  grey 
mantle  to  a  small  heron's  plume,  which,  since  entering  Germany, 
she  had  worn  in  compliance  with  the  custom  of  the  country, 
and  in  evidence  of  her  rank  as  a  maiden  of  birth  and  distinc- 
tion. Yet,  if  the  youth's  eyes  brought  him  true  tidings  at 
present,  what  was  the  character  of  their  former  information, 
when,  scarce  more  than  half  an  hour  since,  they  had  beheld,  in 
the  subterranean  dungeon  of  Brisach,  the  same  form  which  they 
now  rested  upon,  in  circumstances  so  very  different !  The 
feeling  excited  by  this  thought  was  powerful,  but  it  was 
momentary,  like  the  lightning  which  blazes  through  a  midnight 
sky,  which  is  but  just  seen  ere  it  vanishes  into  darkness.  Or 
rather,  the  wonder  excited  by  this  marvellous  incident  only 
maintained  its  ground  in  his  thoughts  by  alljdng  itself  with 
the  anxiety  for  his  father's  safety,  which  was  their  predominant 
occupation. 

*If  there  be  indeed  a  spirit,'  he  said,  'which  wears  that 
beautiful  form,  it  must  be  beneficent  as  well  as  lovely,  and 
will  extend  to  my  far  more  deserving  father  the  protection 
which  his  son  has  twice  experienced.' 

But  ere  he  had  time  to  prosecute  such  a  thought  farther, 
he  had  met  the  Landamman  and  his  party.  Here  his  appear- 
ance and  his  condition  excited  the  same  surprise  as  they  had 
formerly  occasioned  to  Rudolph  and  the  vanguard.  To  the 
repeated  interrogatories  of  the  Landamman,  he  gave  a  brief 
account  of  his  own  imprisonment,  and  of  his  escape,  of  which 
he  suffered  the  whole  glory  to  rest  with  the  black  priest  of  St. 
Paul's,  without  mentioning  one  word  of  the  more  interesting 
female  apparition,  by  which  he  had  been  attended  and  assisted 
in  his  charitable  task.  On  another  point  also  Arthur  was 
silent.  He  saw  no  propriety  in  communicating  to  Arnold 
Biederman  the  message  which  the  priest  had  addressed  to 
Rudolph's  ear  alone.  Whether  good  should  come  of  it  or  no, 
he  held  sacred  the  obligation  of  silence  imposed  upon  him  by 
a  man  from  whom  he  had  just  received  the  most  important 
assistance. 

The  Landamman  was  struck  dumb  for  a  moment  with 
sorrow  and  surprise  at  the  news  which  he  heard.  The  elder 
Philipson  had  gained  his  respect,  as  well  by  the  purity  and 
steadiness  of  the  principles  which  he  expressed  as  by  the 
extent  and  depth  of  his  information,  which  was  peculiarly 
valuable  and  interesting  to  the  Switzer,  who  felt  his  admirable 


188  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

judgment  considerably  fettered  for  want  of  that  knowledge  of 
countries,  times,  and  manners  with  which  his  English  friend 
often  supplied  him. 

'Let  us  press  forward,*  he  said  to  the  banneret  of  Berne 
and  the  other  deputies ;  *  let  us  offer  our  mediation  betwixt 
the  t3rrant  De  Hagenbach  and  our  friend,  whose  life  is  in 
danger.  He  must  listen  to  us,  for  I  know  his  master  expects 
to  see  this  Philipson  at  his  court.  The  old  man  hinted  to  me 
so  much.  As  we  are  possessed  of  such  a  secret,  Archibald  de 
Hagenbach  will  not  dare  to  brave  our  vengeance,  since  we 
might  easily  send  to  Duke  Charles  information  how  the  gov- 
ernor of  La  Ferette  abuses  his  power,  in  matters  where  not 
only  the  Swiss,  but  where  the  Duke  himself  is  concerned.' 

'  Under  your  reverend  favour,  my  worthy  sir,'  answered  the 
banneret  of  Berne,  '  we  are  Swiss  deputies,  and  go  to  represent 
the  injuries  of  Switzerland  alone.  If  we  embroil  ourselves 
with  the  quarrels  of  strangers,  we  shall  find  it  more  difficult  to 
settle  advantageously  those  of  our  own  country ;  and  if  the 
Duke  should,  by  this  villainy  done  upon  English  merchants, 
bring  upon  him  the  resentment  of  the  English  monarch,  such 
breach  will  only  render  it  more  a  matter  of  peremptory 
necessity  for  him  to  make  a  treaty  advantageous  to  the  Swiss 
cantons.' 

There  was  so  much  worldly  policy  in  this  advice,  that  Adam 
Zimmerman  of  Soleure  instantly  expressed  his  assent,  with  the 
additional  argument,  that  their  brother  Biederman  had  told 
them  scarce  two  hours  before  how  these  English  merchants 
had,  by  his  advice  and  their  own  free  desire,  parted  company 
with  them  that  morning,  on  purpose  that  they  might  not 
involve  the  deputies  in  the  quarrels  which  might  be  raised  by 
the  governor's  exactions  on  his  merchandise. 

'Now  what  advantage,'  he  said,  'sWl  we  derive  from  this 
same  parting  of  company,  supposing,  as  my  brother  seems  to 
urge,  we  are  still  to  consider  this  Englishman's  interest  as  if  he 
were  our  fellow-traveller,  and  under  our  especial  protection  1 ' 

This  personal  reasoning  pinched  the  Landamman  somewhat 
closely,  for  he  had  but  a  short  while  before  descanted  on  the 
generosity  of  the  elder  Philipson,  who  had  freely  exposed 
himself  to  danger  rather  than  that  he  should  embarrass  their 
negotiation  by  remaining  one  of  their  company ;  and  it  com- 
pletely shook  the  fealty  of  the  white-bearded  Nicholas  Bon- 
stetten,  whose  eyes  wandered  from  the  face  of  Zimmerman, 
which  expressed  triumphant  confidence  in  his  argument,  to 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  189 

that  of  his  friend  the  Landamman,  which  was  rather  more 
embarrassed  than  usual. 

*  Brethren,'  said  Arnold  at  length  with  firmness  and  anima- 
tion, *  I  erred  in  priding  myself  upon  the  worldly  policy  which 
I  taught  to  you  this  morning.  This  man  is  not  of  our  country, 
doubtless,  but  he  is  of  our  blood  —  a  copy  of  the  common 
Creator's  image  —  and  the  more  worthy  of  being  called  so,  as  he 
is  a  man  of  integrity  and  worth.  We  might  not,  without 
grievous  sin,  pass  such  a  person,  being  in  danger,  without 
affording  him  relief,  even  if  he  lay  accidentally  by  the  side  of 
our  path;  much  less  should  we  abandon  him  if  the  danger 
has  been  incurred  in  our  own  cause,  and  that  we  might  escape 
the  net  in  which  he  is  himself  caught.  Be  not,  therefore, 
downcast.  We  do  God's  will  in  succouring  an  oppressed  man. 
If  we  succeed  by  mild  means,  as  I  trust  we  shall,  we  do  a  good 
action  at  a  cheap  rate;  if  not,  God  can  assert  the  cause  of 
humanity  by  the  hands  of  few  as  well  as  of  many.' 

'If  such  is  your  opinion,'  said  the  bannerman  of  Berne, 
*not  a  man  here  will  shrink  from  you.  For  me,  I  pleaded 
against  my  own  inclinations  when  I  advised  you  to  avoid  a 
breach  with  the  Burgundian.  But  as  a  soldier,  I  must  needs 
say,  I  would  rather  fight  the  garrison,  were  they  double  the 
number  they  talk  of,  in  a  fair  field,  than  undertake  to  storm 
their  defences.' 

'Nay,'  said  the  Landamman,  'I  sincerely  hope  we  shall 
both  enter  and  depart  from  the  town  of  Brisach  without 
deviating  from  the  pacific  character  with  which  our  mission 
from  the  Diet  invests  us.' 


CHAPTER  XVI 

For  Somerset,  off  with  his  guilty  head  ! 

Henry  VI.  Part  III. 

THE  governor  of  La  Ferette  stood  on  the  battlements  of 
the  eastern  entrance-tower  of  his  fortress,  and  looked 
out  on  the  road  to  B4le,  when  first  the  vanguard  of  the 
Swiss  mission,  then  the  centre  and  rear,  appeared  in  the  dis- 
tance. At  the  same  moment  the  van  halting,  the  main  body- 
closed  with  it,  while  the  females  and  baggage,  and  mules  in  the 
rear,  moved  in  their  turn  up  to  the  main  body,  and  the  whole 
were  united  in  one  group. 

A  messenger  then  stepped  forth,  and  winded  one  of  those 
tremendous  horns,  the  spoils  of  the  wild  bulls,  so  numerous  in 
the  canton  of  Uri  that  they  are  supposed  to  have  given  rise 
to  its  name. 

*  They  demand  admittance,'  said  the  esquire. 

*They  shall  have  it,'  answered  Sir  Archibald  de  Hagenbach. 

*  Marry,  how  they  may  pass  out  again  is  another  and  a  deeper 
question.' 

'Think  yet  a  moment,  noble  sir,'  continued  the  esquire. 

*  Bethink  you,  these  Switzers  are  very  fiends  in  fight,  and  have, 
besides,  no  booty  to  repay  the  conquest  —  some  paltry  chains 
of  good  copper,  perchance,  or  adulterated  silver.  You  have 
knocked  out  the  marrow ;  do  not  damage  your  teeth  by  trying 
to  grind  the  bone.' 

'Thou  art  a  fool,  Kilian,'  answered  De  Hagenbach,  *and  it 
may  be  a  coward  besides.  The  approach  of  some  score,  or  at 
most  some  score  and  a  half,  of  Swiss  partizans  makes  thee 
draw  in  thy  horns  like  a  snail  at  a  child's  finger.  Mine  are 
strong  and  inflexible  as  those  of  the  urus^  of  whom  they  talk 
so  much,  and  on  which  they  blow  so  boldly.  Keep  in  mind, 
thou  timid  creature,  that  if  the  Swiss  deputies,  as  they  presume 
to  call  themselves,  are  permitted  to  pass  fi-ee,  they  carry  to  the 
Duke  stories  of  merchants  bound  to  his  court,  and  fraught  with 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  191 

Erecious  commodities,  specially  addressed  to  his  Grace.  Charles 
as  then  at  once  to  endure  the  presence  of  the  ambassadors, 
whom  he  contemns  and  hates,  and  leams  by  them  that  the 
governor  of  La  Ferette,  permitting  such  to  pass,  has  never- 
theless presumed  to  stop  those  whom  he  would  full  gladly 
see ;  for  what  prince  would  not  blithely  welcome  such  a  casket 
as  that  which  we  have  taken  from  yonder  strolling  English 
pedlar  ? ' 

*  I  see  not  how  the  assault  on  these  ambassadors  will  mend 
your  Excellency's  plea  for  despoiling  the  Englishmen,'  said 
Kilian. 

*  Because  thou  art  a  blind  mole,  Kilian,'  answered  his  chief. 
*If  Burgundy  hears  of  a  ruffle  between  my  garrison  and  the 
mountain  churls,  whom  he  scorns,  and  yet  hates,  it  will  drown 
all  notice  of  the  two  pedlars  who  have  perished  in  the  fray.  If 
after-inquiry  should  come,  an  hour's  ride  transports  me  with 
my  confidants  into  the  Imperial  dominions,  where,  though  the 
Emperor  be  a  spiritless  fool,  the  rich  prize  I  have  found  on 
these  islanders  will  ensure  me  a  good  reception.' 

'  I  wiU  stick  by  your  Excellency  to  the  last,'  returned  the 
esquire ;  '  and  you  shall  yourself  witness  that,  if  a  fool,  I  am  at 
least  no  coward.' 

'I  never  thought  thee  such  when  it  came  to  hand-blows,' 
said  De  Hagenbach ;  '  but  in  policy  thou  art  timid  and  irreso- 
lute. Hand  me  mine  armour,  Kilian,  and  beware  thou  brace  it 
well.     The  Swiss  pikes  and  swords  are  no  wasp  stings.' 

*  May  your  Excellency  wear  it  with  honour  and  profit,'  said 
Kilian ;  and,  according  to  the  duty  of  his  office,  he  buckled 
upon  his  principal  the  complete  panoply  of  a  knight  of  the 
Empire.  '  Your  purpose  of  assaulting  the  Swiss  then  holds 
firm,'  said  Kilian.  'But  what  pretext  will  your  Excellency 
assign  ? ' 

'Let  me  alone,'  said  Archibald  de  Hagenbach,  'to  take 
one  or  to  make  one.  Do  you  only  have  Schonfeldt  and  the 
soldiers  on  their  stations.  And  remember  the  words  are  — 
"  Burgundy  to  the  rescue."  When  these  words  are  first  spoken, 
let  the  soldiers  show  themselves ;  when  repeated,  let  them  fall 
on.  And  now  that  I  am  accoutred,  away  to  the  churls  and 
admit  them.' 

Kilian  bowed  and  withdrew. 

The  bugle  of  the  Switzers  had  repeatedly  emitted  its  angry 
roar,  exasperated  by  the  delay  of  nearly  half  an  hour,  without 
an  answer  from  the  guarded  gate  of  Brisach ;  and  every  blast 


192  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

declared,  by  the  prolonged  echoes  which  it  awakened,  the 
increased  impatience  of  those  who  summoned  the  town.  At 
length  the  portcullis  arose,  the  gate  opened,  the  drawbridge 
fell,  and  Kilian,  in  the  equipage  of  a  man-at-arms  arrayed  for 
fight,  rode  forth  on  an  ambling  palfrey. 

*  What  bold  men  are  ye,  sirs,  who  are  here  in  arms  before 
the  fortress  of  Brisach,  appertaining  in  right  and  seignory 
to  the  thrice  noble  Duke  of  Burgundy  and  Lorraine,  and 
garrisoned  for  his  cause  and  interest  by  the  excellent  Sir 
Archibald,  Lord  of  Hagenbach,  knight  of  the  Most  Holy 
Eoman  Empire  T 

*  So  please  you,  sir  esquire,'  said  the  Landamman,  *  for  such 
I  conjecture  you  to  be  by  the  feather  in  your  bonnet,  we  are 
here  with  no  hostile  intentions,  though  armed,  as  you  see,  to 
defend  us  in  a  perilous  journey,  where  we  are  something  unsafe 
by  day,  and  cannot  always  repose  by  night  in  places  of  security. 
But  our  arms  have  no  offensive  purpose ;  if  they  had  such,  our 
numbers  had  not  been  so  few  as  you  see  them.' 

*  What,  then,  is  your  character  and  purpose  ? '  said  Kilian, 
who  had  learned  to  use,  in  his  njaster's  absence,  the  lordly  and 
insolent  tone  of  the  governor  himself 

'We  are  delegates,'  answered  the  Landamman,  in  a  calm 
and  even  tone  of  voice,  without  appearing  to  take  offence  at,  or 
to  observe,  the  insolent  demeanour  of  the  esquire,  'from  the 
Free  and  Confederated  Cantons  of  the  Swiss  states  and  prov- 
inces, and  from  the  good  town  of  Soleure,  who  are  accredited 
from  our  Diet  of  Legislature  to  travel  to  the  presence  of  his 
Grace  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  on  an  errand  of  high  importance 
to  both  countries,  and  with  the  hope  of  establishing  with  your 
master's  lord  —  I  mean  with  the  noble  Duke  of  Burgundy  —  a 
sure  and  steadfast  peace,  upon  such  terms  as  shall  be  to  the 
mutual  honour  and  advantage  of  both  countries,  and  to  avert 
disputes  and  the  effusion  of  Christian  blood,  which  may  other- 
wise be  shed  for  want  of  timely  and  good  understanding.' 

'  Show  me  your  letters  of  credence,'  said  the  esquire. 

*  Under  your  forgiveness,  sir  esquire,'  replied  the  Lan- 
damman, *  it  will  be  time  enough  to  exhibit  these  when  we  are 
admitted  to  the  presence  of  your  master  the  governor.' 

*  That  is  as  much  as  to  say,  wilful  will  to  it.  It  is  well,  my 
masters ;  and  jet  you  may  take  this  advice  from  Kilian  of 
Kersberg :  It  is  sometimes  better  to  reel  backwards  than  to 
run  forwards.  My  master,  and  my  master's  master,  are  more 
ticklish  persons  than  the  dealers  of  Bale,  to  whom  you  sell  your 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  19S 

cheeses.  Home,  honest  men  —  home  I  your  way  lies  before  you, 
and  you  are  fairly  warned.' 

*We  thank  thee  for  thy  counsel,'  said  the  Landamman, 
interrupting  the  banneret  of  Berne,  who  had  commenced  an 
angry  reply,  'supposing  it  kindly  meant;  if  not,  an  uncivil 
jest  is  like  an  overcharged  gun,  which  recoils  on  the  cannoneer. 
Our  road  lies  onward  through  Brisach,  and  onward  we  propose 
to  go,  and  take  such  hap  as  that  which  we  may  find  before  us.' 

'  Go  onward  then,  in  the  devil's  name,'  said  the  squire,  who 
had  entertained  some  hope  of  deterring  them  from  pursuing 
their  journey,  but  found  himself  effectually  foiled. 

The  Switzers  entered  the  town,  and,  stopped  by  the  barri- 
cade of  cars  which  the  governor  had  formed  across  the  street, 
at  about  twenty  yards  irom  the  gate,  they  drew  themselves  up 
in  military  order,  with  their  little  body  formed  into  three  lines, 
the  two  females  and  the  fathers  of  the  deputation  being  in  the 
centre.  The  little  phalanx  presented  a  double  front,  one  to 
each  side  of  the  street,  while  the  centre  line  faced  so  as  to  move 
forward,  and  only  waited  for  the  removal  of  the  barricade  in 
order  to  do  so.  But  while  they  stood  thus  inactive,  a  knight 
in  complete  armour  appeared  from  a  side  door  of  the  great 
tower,  under  the  arch  of  which  they  had  entered  into  the  town. 
His  visor  was  raised,  and  he  walked  along  the  front  of  the  little 
line  formed  by  the  Swiss  with  a  stern  and  frowning  aspect. 

*Who  are  you,'  he  said,  'who  have  thus  far  intruded  your- 
selves in  arms  into  a  Burgundian  garrison  ^ 

'With  your  Excellency's  leave,'  said  the  Landamman,  'we 
are  men  who  come  on  a  peaceful  errand,  though  we  carry  arms 
for  our  own  defence.  Deputies  we  are  from  the  towns  of  Berne 
and  Soleure,  the  cantons  of  Uri,  Schwytz,  and  Unterwalden, 
come  to  adjust  matters  of  importance  with  the  gracious  Duke 
of  Burgundy  and  Lorraine.' 

'  What  towns,  what  cantons  1 '  said  the  governor  of  La 
Ferette.  *  I  have  heard  no  such  names  among  the  Free  Cities 
of  Germany.     Berne,  truly  !  when  became  Berne  a  free  state  ? ' 

'Since  the  twenty-first  day  of  June,'  said  Arnold  Biederman, 
'  in  the  year  of  grace  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine,  on  which  day  the  battle  of  Laupen  was  fought.' 

'Away,  vain  old  man,'  said  the  knight ;  * thinkest  thou  that 
such  idle  boasts  can  avail  thee  here  1  We  have  heard,  indeed, 
of  some  insurgent  villages  and  communities  among  the  Alps, 
and  how  they  rebelled  against  the  Emperor,  and,  by  the  ad- 
vantage of  fastnesses,  ambuscades,  and  lurking-places,  how  they 

VOL.  XXIII  — 13 


194  ANxNfE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

have  murdered  some  knights  and  gentlemen  sent  against  them 
by  the  Duke  of  Austria ;  but  we  little  thought  that  such  paltry 
townships  and  insignificant  bands  of  mutineers  had  the  in- 
solence to  term  themselves  free  states,  and  propose  to  enter 
into  negotiations  as  such  with  a  mighty  prince  like  Charles  of 
Burgundy.' 

'May  it  please  your  Excellency/  replied  the  Landamman, 
with  perfect  temper,  '  your  own  laws  of  chivalry  declare  that, 
if  the  stronger  wrong  the  weaker,  or  the  noble  does  injury  to 
the  less  gentle,  the  very  act  levels  distinctions  between  them, 
and  the  doer  of  an  injury  becomes  bound  to  give  condign  satis- 
faction, of  such  kind  as  the  wronged  party  shall  demand.'  ^ 

'  Hence  to  thy  hills,  churl ! '  exclaimed  the  haughty  knight ; 
*  there  comb  thy  beard  and  roast  thy  chestnuts.  What !  be- 
cause a  few  rats  and  mice  find  retreat  among  the  walls  and 
wainscoting  of  our  dwelling-houses,  shall  we  therefore  allow 
them  to  intrude  their  disgusting  presence,  and  their  airs  of 
freedom  and  independence,  into  our  personal  presence  ?  No,  we 
will  rather  crush  them  beneath  the  heel  of  our  ironshod  boots.' 

'  We  are  not  men  to  be  trodden  on,'  said  Arnold  Biederman, 
calmly ;  '  those  who  have  attempted  it  have  found  us  stumbling- 
blocks.  Lay,  sir  knight  —  lay  aside  for  an  instant  this  haughty 
language,  which  can  only  lead  to  warfare,  and  listen  to  the 
words  of  peace.  Dismiss  our  comrade,  the  English  merchant 
Philipson,  on  whom  you  have  this  morning  laid  unlawful  hands  ; 
let  him  pay  a  moderate  sum  for  his  ransom,  and  we,  who  are 
bound  instantly  to  the  Duke's  presence,  will  bear  a  fair  report 
to  him  of  his  governor  of  La  Ferette.' 

'  You  will  be  so  generous,  will  you ! '  said  Sir  Archibald,  in 
a  tone  of  ridicule.  *  And  what  pledge  shall  I  have  that  you 
will  favour  me  so  kindly  as  you  propose  1 ' 

*  The  word  of  a  man  who  never  broke  his  promise,'  answered 
the  stoical  Landamman. 

'  Insolent  hind  ! '  replied  the  knight,  '  dost  thou  stipulate  1 
Thou  offer  thy  paltry  word  as  a  pledge  betwixt  the  Duke  of 
Burgundy  and  Archibald  de  Hagenbach  ?  Know  that  ye  go 
not  to  Burgundy  at  all,  or  you  go  thither  with  fetters  on  your 
hands  and  halters  round  your  necks.  So  ho,  Burgundy  to  the 
rescue ! ' 

Instantly,  as  he  spoke,  the  soldiers  showed  themselves  before, 
behind,  and  around  the  narrow  space  where  the  Swiss  had  drawn 
themselves  up.  The  battlements  of  the  town  were  lined  with 
men ;  others  presented  themselves  at  the  doors  of  each  house  in 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  195 

the  street,  prepared  to  sally,  and,  at  the  windows,  prepared  to 
shoot,  as  well  with  guns  as  with  bows  and  cross-bows.  The 
soldiers  who  defended  the  barricade  also  started  up,  and  seemed 
ready  to  dispute  the  passage  in  front.  The  little  band,  encom- 
passed and  overmatched,  but  neither  startled  nor  disheartened, 
stood  to  their  arms.  The  centre  rank  under  the  Landamman 
prepared  to  force  their  way  over  the  barricade.  The  two  fronts 
stood  back  to  back,  ready  to  dispute  the  street  with  those  that 
should  issue  from  the  houses.  It  could  not  fail  to  prove  a  work 
of  no  small  blood  and  toil  to  subdue  this  handful  of  determined 
men,  even  with  five  times  their  number.  Some  sense  of  this, 
perhaps,  made  Sir  Archibald  delay  giving  the  signal  for  onset, 
when  suddenly  behind  arose  a  cry  of  '  Treason  —  treason  ! ' 

A  soldier,  covered  with  mud,  rushed  before  the  governor, 
and  said,  in  hurried  accents,  that,  as  he  endeavoured  to  stop 
a  prisoner  who  had  made  his  escape  some  short  time  since, 
he  had  been  seized  by  the  burghers  of  the  town,  and  wellnigh 
drowned  in  the  moat.  He  added,  that  the  citizens  were  even 
now  admitting  the  enemy  into  the  place. 

'  Kilian,'  said  the  knight,  '  take  two  score  of  men ;  hasten  to 
the  northern  sally-port;  stab,  cut  down,  or  throw  irom  the 
battlements  whomsoever  you  meet  in  arms,  townsmen  or 
strangers.  Leave  me  to  settle  with  these  peasants  by  fair 
means  or  foul.' 

But  ere  Kilian  could  obey  his  master's  commands  a  shout 
arose  in  the  rear,  where  they  cried,  '  B^le  —  B^le !  Freedom  — 
freedom  !     The  day  is  our  own  ! ' 

Onward  came  the  youth  of  B41e,  who  had  not  been  at  such 
a  distance  but  that  Rudolph  had  contrived  to  recall  them ; 
onward  came  many  Swiss  who  had  hovered  around  the  embassy, 
holding  themselves  in  readiness  for  such  a  piece  of  service ; 
and  onward  came  the  armed  citizens  of  La  Ferette,  who,  com- 
pelled to  take  arms  and  mount  guard  by  the  tyranny  of  De 
Hagenbach,  had  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  admit 
the  B^lese  at  the  sally-port  through  which  Philipson  had  lately 
made  his  escape. 

The  garrison,  somewhat  discouraged  before  by  the  firm  aspect 
of  the  Swiss,  who  had  held  their  numbers  at  defiance,  were 
totally  disconcerted  by  this  new  and  unexpected  insurrection. 
Most  of  them  prepared  rather  to  fly  than  to  fight,  and  they 
threw  themselves  in  numbers  from  the  walls,  as  the  best  chance 
of  escaping.  Kilian  and  some  others,  whom  pride  prevented 
from  flying,  and  despair  from  asking  quarter,  fought  with  fury, 


196  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

and  were  killed  on  the  spot.  In  the  midst  of  this  confusion 
the  Landamman  kept  his  own  bands  unmoved,  permitting 
them  to  take  no  share  in  the  action,  save  to  repel  such  violence 
as  was  offered  to  them. 

*  Stand  fast  all ! '  sounded  the  deep  voice  of  Arnold  Bieder- 
man  along  their  little  body.  '  Where  is  Rudolph  ?  Save  lives, 
but  take  none.  Why,  how  now,  Arthur  Philipson !  stand  fast, 
I  say.' 

'I  cannot  stand  fast,'  said  Arthur,  who  was  in  the  act  of 
leaving  the  ranks.  '  I  must  seek  my  father  in  the  dungeons  : 
they  may  be  slaying  him  in  this  confusion  while  I  stand  idle 
here.' 

'By  Our  Lady  of  Einsiedlen,  you  say  well,'  answered  the 
Landamman ;  '  that  I  should  have  forgot  my  noble  guest !  I 
will  help  thee  to  search  for  him,  Arthur  —  the  affray  seems 
wellnigh  ended.  Ho,  there,  sir  banneret,  worthy  Adam  Zimmer- 
man, my  good  friend  Nicholas  Bonstetten,  keep  our  men 
standing  firm.  Have  nothing  to  do  with  this  affray,  but  leave 
the  men  of  B^le  to  answer  their  own  deeds.  I  return  in  a  few 
minutes.' 

^  So  saying,  he  hurried  after  Arthur  Philipson,  whose  recollec- 
tion conducted  him,  with  sufficient  accuracy,  to  the  head  of  the 
dungeon  stairs.  There  they  met  an  ill-looking  man  clad  in  a 
buff  jerkin,  who  bore  at  his  girdle  a  bunch  of  rusted  keys, 
which  intimated  the  nature  of  his  calling. 

'Show  me  the  prison  of  the  English  merchant,'  said  Arthur 
Phi^son,  *or  thou  diest  by  my  hand.' 

'Which  of  them  desire  you  to  see,'  answered  the  official  — 
*  the  old  man  or  the  young  one  ? ' 

'The  old,'  said  young  Philipson.  'His  son  has  escaped 
thee.' 

'Enter  here,  then,  gentlemen,'  said  the  jailer,  undoing  the 
spring-bolt  of  a  heavy  door. 

At  the  upper  end  of  the  apartment  lay  the  man  they  came 
to  seek  for,  who  was  instantly  raised  from  the  ground  and 
loaded  with  their  embraces. 

'My  dear  father!'  'My  worthy  guest!'  said  his  son  and 
friend  at  the  same  moment,  'how  fares  it  with  youl' 

'Well,'  answered  the  elder  Philipson,  'if  you,  my  friend 
and  son,  come,  as  I  judge  from  your  arms  and  countenance,  as 
conquerors,  and  at  liberty ;  ill,  if  you  come  to  share  my  prison- 
house.' 

'Have  no  fear  of  that,'  said  the  Landamman;   'we  have 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  197 

been  in  danger,  but  are  remarkably  delivered.  Your  evil  lair 
has  benumbed  you.  Lean  on  me,  my  noble  guest,  and  let  me 
assist  you  to  better  quarters.' 

Here  he  was  interrupted  by  a  heavy  clash,  as  it  seemed,  of 
iron,  and  differing  from  the  distant  roar  of  the  popular  tumult, 
which  they  still  heard  from  the  open  street,  as  men  hear  the 
deep  voice  of  a  remote  and  tempestuous  ocean. 

'  By  St.  Peter  of  the  Fetters ! '  said  Arthur,  who  instantly 
discovered  the  cause  of  the  sound,  '  the  jailer  has  cast  the  door 
to  the  staple,  or  it  has  escaped  his  grasp.  The  spring-lock  has 
closed  upon  us,  and  we  cannot  be  hberated  saving  from  the 
outside.     Ho,  jailer  dog !  villain !  open  the  door,  or  thou  diest.' 

'  He  is  probably  out  of  hearing  of  your  threats,'  said  the 
elder  PhiKpson,  'and  your  cries  avail  you  nothing.  But  are 
you  sure  the  Swiss  are  in  possession  of  the  town  1 ' 

*  We  are  peaceful  occupants  of  it,'  answered  the  Landamman, 
*  though  without  a  blow  given  on  our  side.' 

*  Why,  then,'  said  the  Englishman,  '  your  followers  will  soon 
find  you  out.  Arthur  and  I  are  paltry  ciphers,  and  our  absence 
might  easily  pass  over  unobserved ;  but  you  are  too  important 
a  figure  not  to  be  missed  and  looked  after,  when  the  sum  of 
your  number  is  taken.' 

*  I  well  hope  it  will  prove  so,'  said  the  Landamman,  'though 
methinks  I  show  but  scurvily,  shut  up  here  like  a  cat  in  a  cup- 
board when  he  has  been  stealing  cream.  Arthur,  my  brave 
boy,  dost  thou  see  no  means  of  shooting  back  the  bolt  1 ' 

Arthur,  who  had  been  minutely  examining  the  lock,  replied 
in  the  negative  ;  and  added,  that  they  must  take  patience  per- 
force, and  arm  themselves  to  wait  calmly  their  deliverance, 
which  they  could  do  nothing  to  accelerate. 

Arnold  Biederman,  however,  felt  somewhat  severely  the 
neglect  of  his  sons  and  companions. 

*  All  my  youths,  uncertain  whether  I  am  alive  or  dead,  are 
taking  the  opportunity  of  my  absence,  doubtless,  for  pillage 
and  license ;  and  the  politic  Rudolph,  I  presume,  cares  not  if  I 
should  never  reappear  on  the  stage ;  the  banneret  and  the 
white-bearded  fool  Bonstetten,  who  calls  me  his  friend  —  every 
neighbour  has  deserted  me;  and  yet  they  know  that  I  am 
anxious  for  the  safety  of  the  most  insignificant  of  them  all,  as 
dearer  to  me  than  my  own.  By  Heavens  !  it  looks  like  strata- 
gem ;  and  shows  as  if  the  rash  young  men  desired  to  get  rid 
of  a  rule  too  regular  and  peaceful  to  be  pleasing  to  those  who 
are  eager  for  war  and  conquest.* 


198  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

The  Landamman,  fretted  out  of  his  usual  serenity  of 
temper,  and  afraid  of  the  misbehaviour  of  his  countrymen  in 
his  absence,  thus  reflected  upon  his  friends  and  companions, 
while  the  distant  noise  soon  died  away  into  the  most  absolute 
and  total  silence. 

'  What  is  to  do  now  1  *  said  Arthur  Philipson.  '  I  trust  they 
will  take  the  opportunity  of  quiet  to  go  through  the  roll-call, 
and  inquire  then  who  are  amissing.' 

It  seemed  as  if  the  young  man's  wish  had  some  efficacy,  for 
he  had  scarce  uttered  it  before  the  lock  was  turned,  and  the 
door  set  ajar  by  some  one  who  escaped  upstairs  from  behind 
it  before  those  who  were  set  at  liberty  could  obtain  a  glance 
of  their  deliverer. 

*  It  is  the  jailer,  doubtless,'  said  the  Landamman,  *  who  may 
be  apprehensive,  as  he  has  some  reason,  that  we  might  prove 
more  incensed  at  our  detention  in  the  dungeon  than  grateful 
for  our  deliverance.' 

As  they  spoke  thus,  they  ascended  the  narrow  stairs,  and 
issued  from  the  door  of  the  gate-house  tower,  where  a 
singular  spectacle  awaited  them.  The  Swiss  deputies  and 
their  escort  still  remained  standing  fast  and  firm  on  the  very 
spot  where  Hagenbach  had  proposed  to  assail  them.  A  few 
of  the  late  governor's  soldiers,  disarmed,  and  cowering  from 
the  rage  of  a  multitude  of  the  citizens,  who  now  filled  the 
streets,  stood  with  downcast  looks  behind  the  phalanx  of  the 
mountaineers,  as  their  safest  place  of  retreat.  But  this  was 
not  all. 

The  cars,  so  lately  placed  to  obstruct  the  passage  of  the 
street,  were  now  joined  together,  and  served  to  support  a  plat- 
form, or  scaffold,  which  had  been  hastily  constructed  of  planks. 
On  this  was  placed  a  chair,  in  which  sat  a  tall  man,  with  his 
head,  neck,  and  shoulders  bare,  the  rest  of  his  body  clothed  in 
bright  armour.  His  countenance  was  as  pale  as  death,  yet 
young  Philipson  recognised  the  hard-hearted  governor,  Sir 
Archibald  de  Hagenbach.  He  appeared  to  be  bound  to  the 
chair.  On  his  right,  and  close  beside  him,  stood  the  priest  of 
St.  Paul's,  muttering  prayers,  with  his  breviary  in  his  hand; 
while  on  his  left,  and  somewhat  behind  the  captive,  appeared  a 
tall  man,  attired  in  red,  and  leaning  with  both  hands  on  the 
naked  sword  which  has  been  described  on  a  former  occasion. 
The  instant  that  Arnold  Biederman  appeared,  and  before  the 
Landamman  could  open  his  lips  to  demand  the  meaning  of 
what  he  saw,  the  priest  drew  back,  the  executioner  stepped 


Nobles,  Knights,  gentlemen  of  freeborn  blood,  and  good  citi- 
zens,' he  said." 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  199 

forward,  the  sword  was  brandished,  the  blow  was  struck,  and 
the  victim's  head  rolled  on  the  scaflfold.  A  general  acclama- 
tion and  clapping  of  hands,  like  that  by  which  a  crowded 
theatre  approves  of  some  well-graced  performer,  followed  this 
feat  of  dexterity.  While  the  headless  corpse  shot  streams  from 
the  arteries,  which  were  drunk  up  by  the  sawdust  that  strewed 
the  scaffold,  the  executioner  gracefully  presented  himself  alter- 
nately at  the  four  comers  of  the  stage,  modestly  bowing,  as  the 
multitude  greeted  him  with  cheers  of  approbation. 

*  Nobles,  knights,  gentlemen  of  free-bom  blood,  and  good 
citizens,'  he  said,  'who  have  assisted  at  this  act  of  high  justice, 
I  pray  you  to  bear  me  witness  that  this  judgment  hath  been 
executed  after  the  form  of  the  sentence,  at  one  blow,  and  with- 
out stroke  missed  or  repeated.' 

The  acclamations  were  reiterated :  *  Long  live  our  scharf- 
gerichter  Steinernherz,  and  many  a  tyrant  may  he  do  his  duty 
on  ! ' 

'  Noble  friends,'  said  the  executioner,  with  the  deepest 
obeisance,  '  I  have  yet  another  word  to  say,  and  it  must  be  a 
proud  one.  God  be  gracious  to  the  soul  of  this  good  and  noble 
knight.  Sir  Archibald  de  Hagenbach.  He  was  the  patron  of  my 
youth,  and  my  guide  to  the  path  of  honour.  Eight  steps  have 
I  made  towards  freedom  and  nobility  on  the  heads  of  freebom 
knights  and  nobles  who  have  fallen  by  his  authority  and  com- 
mand ;  and  the  ninth,  by  which  I  have  attained  it,  is  upon  his 
own,  in  grateful  memory  of  which  I  will  expend  this  purse  of 
gold,  which  but  an  hour  since  he  bestowed  on  me,  in  masses  for 
his  soul.  Gentlemen,  noble  friends,  and  now  my  equals.  La 
Ferette  has  lost  a  nobleman  and  gained  one.  Our  Lady  be 
gracious  to  the  departed  knight.  Sir  Archibald  de  Hagenbach, 
and  bless  and  prosper  the  progress  of  Stephen  Steinernherz 
von  Blutacker,  now  free  and  noble  of  right ! '  ^ 

With  that  he  took  the  feather  out  of  the  cap  of  the  deceased, 
which,  soiled  with  the  blood  of  the  wearer,  lay  near  his  body 
upon  the  scaffold,  and,  putting  it  into  his  own  official  bonnet, 
received  the  homage  of  the  crowd  in  loud  huzzas,  which 
were  partly  in  eamest,  partly  in  ridicule  of  such  an  unusual 
transformation. 

Arnold  Biederman  at  length  found  breath,  which  the  ex- 
tremity of  surprise  had  at  first  denied  him.  Indeed,  the  whole 
execution  had  passed  much  too  rapidly  for  the  possibility  of  his 
interference. 

*  See  PubUc  Executioner.    Note  3. 


200  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  Who  has  dared  to  act  this  tragedy  ? '  he  said  indignantly ; 
*  and  by  what  right  has  it  taken  place  ? ' 

A  cavalier,  richly  dressed  in  blue,  replied  to  the  question  — 
*The  free  citizens  of  B^le  have  acted  for  themselves,  as  the 
fathers  of  Swiss  liberty  set  them  an  example ;  and  the  tyrant, 
De  Hagenbach,  has  fallen  by  the  same  right  which  put  to 
death  the  tyrant  Geysler.  We  bore  with  him  till  his  cup  was 
brimming  over,  and  then  we  bore  no  longer.' 

*I  say  not  but  that  he  deserved  death,'  replied  the  Lan- 
damman ;  '  but,  for  your  own  sake  and  for  ours,  you  should 
have  forborne  him  till  the  Duke's  pleasure  was  known.' 

*  What  tell  you  us  of  the  Duke  V  answered  Laurenz  Neip- 
perg,  the  same  blue  cavalier  whom  Arthur  had  seen  at  the 
secret  rendezvous  of  the  B^lese  youth,  in  company  with 
RudolpL  *  Why  talk  you  of  Burgundy  to  us,  who  are  none  of 
his  subjects?  The  Emperor,  our  only  rightful  lord,  had  no 
title  to  pawn  the  town  and  fortifications  of  La  Ferette,  being 
as  it  is  a  dependency  of  Bale,  to  the  prejudice  of  our  free  city. 
He  might  have  pledged  the  revenue  indeed ;  and  supposing 
him  to  have  done  so,  the  debt  has  been  paid  twice  over  by 
the  exactions  levied  by  yonder  oppressor,  who  has  now  received 
his  due.  But  pass  on,  Landamman  of  Unterwalden.  If  our 
actions  displease  you,  abjure  them  at  the  footstool  of  the  Duke 
of  Burgundy ;  but,  in  doing  so,  abjure  the  memory  of  William 
Tell  and  Staufiacher,  of  Furst  and  Melchthal,  the  fathers  of 
Swiss  freedom.' 

*You  speak  truth,'  said  the  Landamman;  *but  it  is  in  an 
ill-chosen  and  unhappy  time.  Patience  would  have  remedied 
your  evils,  which  none  felt  more  deeply,  or  would  have  re- 
dressed more  willingly,  than  L  But  0,  imprudent  young 
man,  you  have  thrown  aside  the  modesty  of  your  age  and  the 
subjection  you  owe  to  your  elders.  William  Tell  and  his 
brethren  were  men  of  years  and  judgment,  husbands  and 
fathers,  having  a  right  to  be  heard  in  council  and  to  be  fore- 
most in  action.  Enough  —  I  leave  it  with  the  fathers  and 
senators  of  your  own  city  to  acknowledge  or  to  reprove  your 
actions.  But  you,  my  friends  —  you,  banneret  of  Berne  —  you, 
Rudolph  —  above  all,  you,  Nicholas  Bonstetten,  my  comrade 
and  my  friend,  why  did  you  not  take  this  miserable  man  under 
your  protection  ?  The  action  would  have  shown  Burgundy 
that  we  were  slandered  by  those  who  have  declared  us  desirous 
of  seeking  a  quarrel  with  him,  or  of  inciting  his  subjects  to 
revolt.     Now,  all  these  prejudices  will  be  confirmed  in  the 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  201 

minds  of  men  naturally  more  tenacious  of  evil  impressions 
than  of  those  which  are  favourable.' 

*  As  I  live  by  bread,  good  gossip  and  neighbour,'  answered 
Nicholas  Bonstetten,  '  I  thought  to  obey  your  injunctions  to  a 
tittle;  so  much  so,  that  I  once  thought  of  breaking  in  and 
protecting  the  man,  when  Rudolph  Donnerhugel  reminded  me 
that  your  last  orders  were  to  stand  firm,  and  let  the  men  of 
BMe  answer  for  their  own  actions;  "and  surely,"  said  I  to 
myself,  "  my  gossip  Arnold  knows  better  than  all  of  us  what  is 
fitting  to  be  done."  ' 

*  Ai,  Rudolph  —  Rudolph,'  said  the  Landamman,  looking  on 
him  with  a  displeased  countenance,  *  wert  thou  not  ashamed 
thus  to  deceive  an  old  man  ? ' 

*To  say  I  deceived  him  is  a  hard  charge;  but  from  you, 
Landamman,'  answered  the  Bernese,  with  his  usual  deference, 
'  I  can  bear  anything.  I  will  only  say  that,  being  a  member 
of  this  embassy,  I  am  obliged  to  think  and  to  give  my  opinion 
as  such,  especially  when  he  is  not  present  who  is  wise  enough 
to  lead  and  direct  us  all.' 

*Thy  words  are  always  fair,  Rudolph,'  replied  Arnold 
Biederman,  'and  I  trust  so  is  thy  meaning.  Yet  there  are 
times  when  I  somewhat  doubt  it.  But  let  disputes  pass,  and 
let  me  have  your  advice,  my  fi*iends  ;  and  for  that  purpose  go 
we  where  it  may  best  profit  us,  even  to  the  church,  where  we 
will  first  return  our  thanks  for  our  deliverance  from  assassina- 
tion, and  then  hold  counsel  what  next  is  to  be  done.' 

The  Landamman  led  the  way,  accordingly,  to  the  church 
of  St.  Paul's,  while  his  companions  and  associates  followed  in 
their  order.  This  gave  Rudolph,  who,  as  youngest,  suffered 
the  others  to  precede  him,  an  opportunity  to  beckon  to  him 
the  Landamman's  eldest  son,  Rudiger,  and  whisper  to  him  to 
get  rid  of  the  two  English  merchants. 

'  Away  with  them,  my  dear  Rudiger,  by  fair  means  if  pos- 
sible; but  away  with  them  directly.  Thy  father  is  besotted 
with  these  two  English  pedlars,  and  will  listen  to  no  other 
counsel ;  and  thou  and  I  know,  dearest  Rudiger,  that  such  men 
as  these  are  unfit  to  give  laws  to  ireeborn  Switzers.  Get  the 
trumpery  they  have  been  robbed  of,  or  as  much  of  it  as  is 
extant,  together  as  fast  as  thou  canst,  and  send  them  a-travelling 
in  Heaven's  name.' 

Rudiger  nodded  intelligently,  and  went  to  offer  his  services 
to  expedite  the  departure  of  the  elder  Philipson.  He  found 
the  sagacious  merchant  as  desirous  to  escape  fi:om  the  scene 


202  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

of  confusion  now  presented  in  the  town  as  the  young  Swiss 
could  be  to  urge  his  departure.  He  only  waited  to  recover  the 
casket  of  which  De  Hagenbach  had  possessed  himself,  and 
Rudiger  Biederman  set  on  foot  a  strict  search  after  it,  which 
was  the  more  likely  to  be  successful,  that  the  simplicity  of  the 
Swiss  prevented  them  from  setting  the  true  value  upon  its 
contents.  A  strict  and  hasty  search  was  immediately  insti- 
tuted, both  on  the  person  of  the  dead  De  Hagenbach,  on  which 
the  precious  packet  was  not  to  be  found,  and  on  all  who  had 
approached  him  at  his  execution,  or  were  supposed  to  enjoy  his 
confidence. 

Young  Arthur  Philipson  would  gladly  have  availed  himself 
of  a  few  moments  to  bid  farewell  to  Anne  of  Geierstein.  But 
the  grey  wimple  was  no  longer  seen  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Switzers,  and  it  was  reasonable  to  think  that,  in  the  confusion 
which  followed  the  execution  of  De  Hagenbach,  and  the  retreat 
of  the  leaders  of  the  little  battalion,  she  had  made  her  escape 
into  some  of  the  adjacent  houses,  while  the  soldiers  around  her, 
no  longer  restrained  by  the  presence  of  their  chiefs,  had  dis- 
persed, some  to  search  for  the  goods  of  which  the  Englishmen 
had  been  despoiled,  others  doubtless  to  mingle  with  and  join 
in  the  rejoicings  of  the  victorious  youths  of  B4le,  and  of  those 
burghers  of  La  Ferette  by  whom  the  fortifications  of  the  town 
had  been  so  gently  surrendered. 

The  cry  amongst  them  was  universal,  that  Brisach,  so  long 
considered  as  the  curb  of  the  Swiss  confederates,  and  the  barrier 
against  their  commerce,  should  henceforth  be  garrisoned  as 
their  protection  against  the  encroachments  and  exactions  of  the 
Duke  of  Burgundy  and  his  officers.  The  whole  town  was  in  a 
wild  but  joyful  jubilee,  while  the  citizens  vied  with  each  other 
in  ofiering  to  the  Swiss  every  species  of  refreshment,  and  the 
youths  who  attended  upon  the  mission  hurried  gaily  and  in 
triumph  to  profit  by  the  circumstances  which  had  so  unex- 
pectedly converted  the  ambuscade  so  treacherously  laid  for 
them  into  a  genial  and  joyous  reception. 

Amid  this  scene  of  confusion,  it  was  impossible  for  Arthur 
to  quit  his  father,  even  to  satisfy  the  feelings  which  induced 
him  to  wish  for  a  few  moments  at  his  own  disposal.  Sad, 
thoughtful,  and  sorrowful,  amid  the  general  joy,  he  remained 
with  the  parent  whom  he  had  so  much  reason  to  love  and 
honour,  to  assist  him  in  securing  and  placing  on  their  mule 
the  various  packages  and  bales  which  the  honest  Switzers  had 
recovered  arter  the  death  of  De  Hagenbach,  and  which  they 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  20S 

emulated  each  other  in  bringing  to  their  rightful  owner ;  while 
they  were  with  difficulty  prevailed  on  to  accept  the  guerdon 
which  the  Englishman,  from  the  means  which  he  had  still  left 
upon  his  person,  was  disposed  not  merely  to  offer  but  to  force 
upon  the  restorers  of  his  property,  and  which,  in  their  rude  and 
simple  ideas,  seemed  greatly  to  exceed  the  value  of  what  they 
had  recovered  for  him. 

This  scene  had  scarcely  lasted  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  when 
Rudolph  Donnerhugel  approached  the  elder  Philipson,  and  in 
a  tone  of  great  courtesy  invited  him  to  join  the  council  of  the 
chiefs  of  the  embassy  of  the  Swiss  cantons,  who,  he  said,  were 
desirous  of  having  the  advantage  of  his  experience  upon  some 
important  questions  respecting  their  conduct  on  these  unex- 
pected occurrences. 

'  See  to  our  affairs,  Arthur,  and  stir  not  from  the  spot  on 
which  I  leave  you,'  said  Philipson  to  his  son.  '  Look  especially 
after  the  sealed  packet  of  which  I  was  so  infamously  and  ille- 
gally robbed  :  its  recovery  is  of  the  utmost  consequence.' 

So  speaking,  he  instantly  prepared  himself  to  attend  the 
Bernese,  who  in  a  confidential  manner  whispered,  as  he  went 
arm-in-arm  with  him  towards  the  church  of  St.  Paul's  — 

'  I  think  a  man  of  your  wilsdom  will  scarce  advise  us  to 
trust  ourselves  to  the  mood  of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  when 
he  has  received  such  an  injury  as  the  loss  of  this  fortress  and 
the  execution  of  his  officer.  You,  at  least,  would  be  too  judi- 
cious to  afford  us  any  farther  the  advantage  of  your  company 
and  society,  since  to  do  so  would  be  wilfully  to  engage  in  our 
shipwreck.' 

'  I  will  give  my  best  advice,'  answered  Philipson,  '  when  I 
shall  be  more  particularly  acquainted  with  the  circumstances 
under  which  it  is  asked  of  me.' 

Rudolph  muttered  an  oath,  or  angry  exclamation,  and  led 
Philipson  to  the  church  without  farther  argument. 

In  a  small  chapel  adjoining  to  the  church,  and  dedicated  to 
St.  Magnus  the  Martyr,  the  four  deputies  were  assembled  in 
close  conclave  around  the  shrine  in  which  the  sainted  hero 
stood,  armed  as  when  he  lived.  The  priest  of  St.  Paul's  was 
also  present,  and  seemed  to  interest  himself  deeply  in  the 
debate  which  was  taking  place.  When  Philipson  entered,  all 
were  for  a  moment  silent,  until  the  Landamman  addressed  him 
thus  —  '  Signior  Philipson,  we  esteem  you  a  man  far  travelled, 
well  versed  in  the  manners  of  foreign  lands,  and  acquainted 
with  the  conditions  of  this  Duke  Charles  of  Burgundy  —  you 


S04  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

are  therefore  fit  to  advise  us  in  a  matter  of  great  weight.  You 
know  with  what  anxiety  we  go  on  this  mission  of  peace  with 
the  Duke ;  you  also  know  what  has  this  day  happened,  which 
may  probably  be  represented  to  Charles  in  the  worst  colours ; 
would  you  advise  us,  in  such  a  case,  to  proceed  to  the  Duke's 
presence,  with  the  odium  of  this  action  attached  to  us,  or 
should  we  do  better  to  return  home,  and  prepare  for  war  with 
Burgundy  'i ' 

*  How  do  your  own  opinions  stand  on  the  subject  1 '  said  the 
cautious  Englishman. 

*We  are  divided,'  answered  the  banneret  of  Berne.  'I 
have  borne  the  banner  of  Berne  against  her  foes  for  thirty 
years;  I  am  more  willing  to  carry  it  against  the  lances  of 
the  knights  of  Hainault  and  Lorraine  than  to  undergo  the 
rude  treatment  which  we  must  look  to  meet  at  the  footstool 
of  the  Duke.' 

*  We  put  our  heads  in  the  lion's  mouth  if  we  go  forward,' 
said  Zimmerman  of  Soleure;  'my  opinion  is,  that  we  draw 
back.' 

*  I  would  not  advise  retreat,'  said  Rudolph  Donnerhugel, 
'  were  my  life  alone  concerned ;  but  the  Landamman  of  Unter- 
walden  is  the  father  of  the  United  Cantons,  and  it  would  be 
parricide  if  I  consented  to  put  his  life  in  peril.  My  advice 
is,  that  we  return,  and  that  the  Confederacy  stand  on  their 
defence.' 

'  My  opinion  is  different,'  said  Arnold  Biederman  ;  *nor  will 
I  forgive  any  man  who,  whether  in  sincere  or  feigned  friend- 
ship, places  my  poor  life  in  the  scale  with  the  advantage  of  the 
cantons.  If  we  go  forward,  we  risk  our  heads  —  be  it  so.  But 
if  we  turn  back,  we  involve  our  country  in  war  with  a  power 
of  the  first  magnitude  in  Europe.  Worthy  citizens !  you  are 
brave  in  fight,  show  your  fortitude  as  boldly  now ;  and  let  us 
not  hesitate  to  incur  such  personal  danger  as  may  attend  our- 
selves, if  by  doing  so  we  can  gain  a  chance  of  peace  for  our 
country.' 

*  I  think  and  vote  with  my  neighbour  and  gossip,  Arnold 
Biederman,'  said  the  laconic  deputy  from  Schwytz. 

*You  hear  how  we  are  divided  in  opinion,'  said  the  Lan- 
damman to  Philipson.     '  What  is  your  opinion  1 ' 

*  I  would  first  ask  of  you,'  said  the  Englishman,  *  what  has 
been  your  part  in  this  storming  of  a  town  occupied  by  the 
Duke's  forces,  and  putting  to  death  his  governor  f ' 

'  So  help  me.  Heaven ! '  said  the  Landamman,  *  as  I  knew 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  205 

not  of  any  purpose  of  storming  the  town  until  it  unexpectedly 
took  place.' 

'And  for  the  execution  of  De  Hagenbach,'  said  the  black 
priest,  'I  swear  to  you,  stranger,  by  my  holy  order,  that  it 
took  place  under  the  direction  of  a  competent  court,  whose 
sentence  Charles  of  Burgundy  himself  is  bound  to  respect,  and 
whose  proceedings  the  deputies  of  the  Swiss  mission  could 
neither  have  advanced  nor  retarded.' 

*  If  such  be  the  case,  and  if  you  can  really  prove  yourselves 
free  of  these  proceedings,'  answered  Philipson,  'which  must 
needs  be  highly  resented  by  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  I  would 
advise  you  by  all  means  to  proceed  upon  your  journey,  with 
the  certainty  that  you  will  obtain  from  that  prince  a  just  and 
impartial  hearing,  and  it  may  be  a  favourable  answer.  I  know 
Charles  of  Burgundy  —  I  may  even  say  that,  our  different  ranks 
and  walks  of  life  considered^  I  know  him  well.  He  will  be 
deeply  incensed  by  the  first  tidings  of  what  has  here  chanced, 
which  he  will  no  doubt  interpret  to  your  disfavour.  But  if,  in 
the  course  of  investigation,  you  are  able  to  clear  yourselves  of 
these  foul  imputations,  a  sense  of  his  own  injustice  may  perhaps 
turn  the  balance  in  your  favour,  and  in  that  case  he  will  rush 
from  the  excess  of  censure  into  that  of  indulgence.  But  your 
cause  must  be  firmly  stated  to  the  Duke  by  some  tongue  better 
acquainted  with  the  language  of  courts  than  yours ;  and  such 
a  friendly  interpreter  might  I  have  proved  to  you,  had  I  not 
been  plundered  of  the  valuable  packet  which  I  bore  with  me  in 
order  to  present  to  the  Duke,  and  in  testimony  of  my  commis- 
sion to  him.' 

'A  paltry  fetch,'  whispered  Donnerhugel  to  the  banneret, 
*that  the  trader  may  obtain  from  us  satisfaction  for  the  goods 
of  which  he  has  been  plundered.' 

The  Landamman  himself  was  perhaps  for  a  moment  of  the 
same  opinion. 

*  Merchant,'  he  said,  '  we  hold  ourselves  bound  to  make  good 
to  you  —  that  is,  if  our  substance  can  effect  it  —  whatever  loss 
you  may  have  sustained,  trusting  to  our  protection.' 

*  Ay,  that  we  will,'  said  the  old  man  of  Schwytz,  '  should  it 
cost  us  twenty  zecchins  to  make  it  good.' 

*  To  your  guarantee  of  immunity  I  can  have  no  claim,'  said 
Philipson,  'seeing  I  parted  company  with  you  before  I  sus- 
tained any  loss.  And  I  regret  the  loss  not  so  much  for  its 
value,  although  that  is  greater  than  you  may  fancy,  but  chiefly 
because  that,  the  contents  of  the  casket  I  bore  being  a  token 


206  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

betwixt  a  person  of  considerable  importance  and  the  Duke  of 
Burgundy,  I  shall  not,  I  fear,  now  that  I  am  deprived  of  them, 
receive  from  his  Grace  that  credence  which  I  desire,  both  for 
my  own  sake  and  yours.  Without  them,  and  speaking  only  in 
the  person  of  a  private  traveller,  I  may  not  take  upon  me  as  I 
might  have  done,  when  using  the  names  of  the  persons  whose 
mandates  I  carried/ 

*This  important  packet,'  said  the  Landamman,  'shall  be 
most  rigorously  sought  for,  and  carefully  redelivered  to  thee. 
For  ourselves,  not  a  Swiss  of  us  knows  the  value  of  its  con- 
tents ;  so  that,  if  they  are  in  the  hands  of  any  of  our  men,  they 
will  be  returned,  of  course,  as  baubles,  upon  which  they  set  no 
value.' 

As  he  spoke,  there  was  a  knocking  at  the  door  of  the 
chapel.  Rudolph,  who  stood  nearest  to  it,  having  held  some 
communication  with  those  without,  observed,  with  a  smile, 
which  he  instantly  repressed,  lest  it  had  given  offence  to 
Arnold  Biederman —  *It  is  Sigismund,  the  good  youth.  Shall 
I  admit  him  to  our  council  ? ' 

'  To  what  purpose,  poor  simple  lad  ? '  said  his  father,  with  a 
sorrowful  smile. 

'Yet  let  me  undo  the  door,'  said  Philipson ;  'he  is  anxious 
to  enter,  and  perhaps  he  brings  news.  I  have  observed,  Lan- 
damman, that  the  young  man,  though  with  slowness  of  ideas 
and  expression,  is  strong  in  his  principles,  and  sometimes  happy 
in  his  conceptions.' 

He  admitted  Sigismund  accordingly;  while  Arnold  Bieder- 
man felt,  on  the  one  hand,  the  soothing  compliment  which 
Philipson  had  paid  to  a  boy  certainly  the  dullest  of  his  family, 
and,  on  the  other,  feared  some  public  display  of  his  son's  in- 
firmity, or  lack  of  understanding.  Sigismund,  however,  seemed 
all  confidence ;  and  he  certainly  had  reason  to  be  so,  since,  as 
the  shortest  mode  of  explanation,  he  presented  to  Philipson  the 
necklace  of  diamonds,  with  the  casket  in  which  it  had  been 
deposited. 

'This  pretty  thing  is  yours,'  he  said.  *I  understand  so 
much  from  your  son  Arthur,  who  tells  me  you  will  be  glad  to 
have  it  again.' 

'Most  cordially  do  I  thank  you,'  said  the  merchant.  'The 
necklace  is  certainly  mine  —  that  is,  the  packet  of  which  it 
formed  the  contents  was  under  my  charge ;  and  it  is  at  this 
moment  of  greater  additional  value  to  me  than  even  its  actual 
worth,  since  it  serves  as  my  pledge  and  token  for  the  perform- 


ANNE  OF  OEIERSTEIN  207 

ance  of  an  important  mission.  And  how,  my  young  friend,'  he 
continued,  addressing  Sigismund,  '  have  you  been  so  fortunate 
as  to  recover  what  we  have  sought  for  hitherto  in  vain  1  Let 
me  return  my  best  acknowledgments ;  and  do  not  think  me 
over-curious  if  I  ask  how  it  reached  you  1 ' 

'For  that  matter,'  said  Sigismund,  'the  story  is  soon  told. 
I  had  planted  myself  as  near  the  scaffold  as  I  could,  having 
never  beheld  an  execution  before ;  and  I  observed  the  execu- 
tioner, who,  I  thought,  did  his  duty  very  cleverly,  just  in  the 
moment  that  he  spread  a  cloth  over  the  body  of  De  Hagenbach, 
snatch  something  from  the  dead  man's  bosom,  and  huddle  it 
hastily  into  his  own ;  so,  when  the  rumour  arose  that  an  article 
of  value  was  amissing,  I  hurried  in  quest  of  the  fellow.  I  found 
he  had  bespoke  masses  to  the  extent  of  a  hundred  crowns  at 
the  high  altar  of  St.  Paul's ;  and  I  traced  him^  to  the  tavern 
of  the  village,  where  some  ill-looking  men  were  joyously  drink- 
ing to  him  as  a  free  citizen  and  a  nobleman.  So  I  stepped  in 
amongst  them  with  my  partizan,  and  demanded  of  his  lordship 
either  to  surrender  to  me  what  he  had  thus  possessed  himself 
of  or  to  try  the  weight  of  the  weapon  I  carried.  His  lordship, 
my  Lord  Hangman,  hesitated,  and  was  about  to  make  a  brawl. 
But  I  was  something  peremptory,  and  so  he  judged  it  best  to 
give  me  the  parcel,  which  I  trust  you,  Signior  Philipson,  will 
find  safe  and  entire  as  it  was  taken  from  you.  And  —  and  —  I 
left  them  to  conclude  their  festivities  —  and  that  is  the  whole  of 
the  story.' 

'  Thou  art  a  brave  lad,'  said  Philipson ;  *  and  with  a  heart 
always  right,  the  head  can  seldom  be  far  wrong.  But  the 
church  shall  not  lose  its  dues,  and  I  take  it  on  myself,  ere  I 
leave  La  Ferette,  to  pay  for  the  masses  which  the  man  had 
ordered  for  the  sake  of  De  Hagenbach's  soul,  snatched  from  the 
world  so  unexpectedly.' 

Sigismund  was  about  to  reply;  but  Philipson,  fearing  he 
might  bring  out  some  foolery  to  diminish  the  sense  which  his 
father  had  so  joyously  entertained  of  his  late  conduct,  imme- 
diately added,  '  Hie  away,  my  good  youth,  and  give  to  my  son 
Arthur  this  precious  casket.' 

With  simple  exultation  at  receiving  applause  to  which  he 
was  little  accustomed,  Sigismund  took  his  leave,  and  the  council 
were  once  more  left  to  their  own  privacy. 

There  was  a  moment's  silence ;  for  the  Landamman  could 
not  overcome  the  feeling  of  exquisite  pleasure  at  the  sagacity 
which  poor  Sigismund,  whose  general  conduct  warranted  no 


208  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

such  expectations,  had  displayed  on  the  present  occasion.  It 
was  not,  however,  a  feeling  to  which  circumstances  permitted 
him  to  give  vent,  and  he  reserved  it  for  his  own  secret  enjoy- 
ment, as  a  solace  to  the  anxiety  which  he  had  hitherto  enter- 
tained concerning  the  limited  intellect  of  this  simple-minded 
young  man.  When  he  spoke,  it  was  to  Philipson,  with  the 
usual  candour  and  manliness  of  his  character. 

*  Signior  Philipson,'  he  said,  *  we  will  hold  you  bound  by  no 
offer  which  you  made  while  these  glittering  matters  were  out 
of  your  possession  ;  because  a  man  may  often  think  that,  if  he 
were  in  such  and  such  a  situation,  he  would  be  able  to  achieve 
certain  ends,  which,  that  position  being  attained,  he  may  find 
himself  unable  to  accomplish.  But  I  now  ask  you  whether, 
having  thus  fortunately  and  unexpectedly  regained  possession 
of  what  you  say  wiU  give  you  certain  credence  with  the  Duke 
of  Burgundy,  you  conceive  yourself  entitled  to  mediate  with 
him  on  our  behalf,  as  you  formerly  proposed  ? ' 

All  bent  forward  to  hear  the  merchant's  answer. 

'Landamman,'  he  replied,  'I  never  spoke  the  word  in  diffi- 
culty which  I  was  not  ready  to  redeem  when  that  difficulty 
was  removed.  You  say,  and  I  believe,  that  you  had  no  concern 
with  this  storming  of  La  Ferette.  You  say  also,  that  the  life 
of  De  Hagenbach  was  taken  by  a  judicature  over  which  you 
had  no  control,  and  exercised  none.  Let  a  protocol  be  drawn 
up,  averring  these  circumstances,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  prov- 
ing them.  Entrust  it  to  me  —  under  seal  if  you  will  —  and  if 
such  points  be  established,  I  will  pledge  my  word  as  a  —  as  a  — 
as  an  honest  man  and  a  true-born  Englishman,  that  the  Duke 
of  Burgundy  will  neither  detain  nor  offer  you  any  personal 
injury.  I  also  hope  to  show  to  Charles  strong  and  weighty 
reasons  why  a  league  of  friendship  betwixt  Burgundy  and  the 
United  Cantons  of  Helvetia  is,  on  his  Grace's  part,  a  wise  and 
generous  measure.  But  it  is  possible  I  may  fail  in  this  last 
point ;  and  if  I  do,  I  shall  deeply  grieve  for  it.  In  warranting 
your  safe  passage  to  the  Duke's  court,  and  your  safe  return 
from  it  to  your  own  country,  I  think  I  cannot  fail.  If  I  do,  my 
own  life,  and  that  of  my  beloved  and  only  child,  shall  pay  the 
ransom  for  my  excess  of  confidence  in  the  Duke's  justice  and 
honour.* 

The  other  deputies  stood  silent  and  looked  on  the  Lan- 
damman, but  Rudolph  Donnerhugel  spoke. 

*  Are  we  then  to  trust  our  own  lives,  and,  what  is  still 
dearer  to  us,  that  of  our  honoured  associate,  Arnold  Biederman, 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  S09 

on  the  simple  word  of  a  foreign  trader  1  We  all  know  the 
temper  of  the  Duke,  and  how  vindictively  and  relentlessly  he 
has  ever  felt  towards  our  country  and  its  interests.  Methinks 
this  English  merchant  should  express  the  nature  of  his  interest 
at  the  court  of  Burgundy  more  plainly,  if  he  expects  us  to  place 
such  implicit  reliance  in  it.' 

'That,  Signior  Rudolph  Donnerhugel,'  replied  the  merchant, 
'  I  find  myself  not  at  liberty  to  do.  I  pry  not  into  your  secrets, 
whether  they  belong  to  you  as  a  body  or  as  individuals.  My 
own  are  sacred.  If  I  consulted  my  own  safety  merely,  I  should 
act  most  wisely  to  part  company  with  you  here.  But  the  object 
of  your  mission  is  peace ;  and  your  sudden  return,  after  what 
has  chanced  at  La  Ferette,  will  make  war  inevitable.  I  think 
I  can  assure  you  of  a  safe  and  fi-ee  audience  from  the  Duke, 
and  I  am  willing,  for  the  chance  of  securing  the  peace  of 
Christendom,  to  encounter  any  personal  peril  which  may  attach 
to  myself.' 

*Say  no  more,  worthy  Philipson,'  said  the  Landamman; 
'  thy  good  faith  is  undoubted  on  our  part,  and  ill  luck  is  his 
who  cannot  read  it  written  on  thy  manly  forehead.  We  go 
forward,  then,  prepared  to  risk  our  own  safety  at  the  hand  of 
a  despotic  prince,  rather  than  leave  undischarged  the  mission 
which  our  country  has  entrusted  us  with.  He  is  but  half  a 
brave  man  who  will  risk  his  life  only  in  the  field  of  battle. 
There  are  other  dangers  to  front  which  is  equally  honourable  ; 
and  since  the  weal  of  Switzerland  demands  that  we  should 
encounter  them,  not  one  of  us  will  hesitate  to  take  the  risk.' 

The  other  members  of  the  mission  bowed  in  assent,  and  the 
conclave  broke  up  to  prepare  for  their  farther  entrance  into 
Burgundy. 


VOL.  XXIII — u 


CHAPTER  XVII 

Upon  the  mountain's  heathery  side, 

The  day's  last  lustre  shone, 
And  rich  with  many  a  radiant  hue, 
Gleam'd  gaily  on  the  Rhone. 

SOUTHEY. 

THE  English  merchant  was  now  much  consulted  by  the 
Swiss  commissioners  in  all  their  motions.  He  exhorted 
them  to  proceed  with  all  despatch  on  their  journey,  so  as 
to  carry  to  the  Duke  their  own  account  of  the  affair  of  Brisach, 
and  thus  anticipate  all  rumours  less  favourable  to  their  con- 
duct on  the  occasion.  For  this  purpose  Philipson  recommended 
that  the  deputies,  dismissing  their  escort,  whose  arms  and  num- 
bers might  give  umbrage  and  suspicion,  while  they  were  too  few 
for  defence,  should  themselves  proceed  by  rapid  journeys  on 
horseback  towards  Dijon,  or  wherever  the  Duke  might  chance 
to  be  for  the  time. 

This  proposal  was,  however,  formally  resisted  by  the  very 
person  who  had  hitherto  been  the  most  ductile  of  the  party, 
and  the  willing  echo  of  the  Landamman's  pleasure.  On  the 
present  occasion,  notwithstanding  that  Arnold  Biederman  de- 
clared the  advice  of  Philipson  excellent,  Nicholas  Bonstetten 
stood  in  absolute  and  insurmountable  opposition;  because, 
having  hitherto  trusted  to  his  own  limbs  for  transporting  him- 
self to  and  fro  on  all  occasions,  he  could  by  no  means  be  per- 
suaded to  commit  himself  to  the  discretion  of  a  horse.  As  he 
was  found  obstinately  positive  on  this  subject,  it  was  finally 
determined  that  the  two  Englishmen  should  press  forward  on 
their  journey  with  such  speed  as  they  might,  and  that  the 
elder  of  them  should  make  the  Duke  acquainted  with  so  much 
as  to  the  capture  of  La  Ferette  as  he  had  himself  witnessed  of 
the  matter.  The  particulars  which  had  attended  the  death  of 
De  Hagenbach,  the  Landamman  assured  him,  would  be  sent  to 
the  Duke  by  a  person  of  confidence,  whose  attestation  on  the 
subject  could  not  be  doubted. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  211 


^ 


This  course  was  adopted,  as  Philipson  expressed  his  confi- 
dence of  getting  an  early  and  private  audience  with  his  Grace 
of  Burgundy. 

'  My  best  intercession,'  he  said,  *  you  have  a  good  right  to 
reckon  upon ;  and  no  one  can  bear  more  direct  testimony  than 
I  can  to  the  ungovernable  cruelty  and  rapacity  of  De  Hagen- 
bach,  of  which  I  had  so  nearly  been  the  victim.  But  of  his 
trial  and  execution  I  neither  know  nor  can  tell  anything ;  and 
as  Duke  Charles  is  sure  to  demand  why  execution  was  done 
upon  his  officer  without  an  appeal  to  his  own  tribunal,  it  will 
be  well  that  you  either  provide  me  with  such  facts  as  you  have 
to  state,  or  send  forward,  at  least,  as  speedily  as  possible,  the 
evidence  which  you  have  to  lay  before  him  on  that  most 
weighty  branch  of  the  subject.' 

The  proposal  of  the  merchant  created  some  visible  embar- 
rassment on  the  countenance  of  the  Swiss,  and  it  was  with 
obvious  hesitation  that  Arnold  Biederman,  having  led  him  aside, 
addressed  him  in  a  whisper  — 

*My  good  friend,'  he  said,  'mysteries  are  in  general  like  the 
hateful  mists  which  disfigure  the  noblest  features  of  nature; 
yet,  like  mists,  they  will  sometimes  intervene  when  we  most 
desire  their  absence,  when  we  most  desire  to  be  plain  and 
explicit.  The  manner  of  De  Hagenbach's  death  you  saw ;  we 
will  take  care  that  the  Duke  is  informed  of  the  authority  by 
which  it  was  inflicted.  This  is  all  that  I  can  at  present  tell 
you  on  the  subject ;  and  let  me  add,  that  the  less  you  speak 
of  it  with  any  one,  you  will  be  the  more  likely  to  escape 
inconvenience.' 

*  Worthy  Landamman,'  said  the  Englishman,  *  I  also  am  by 
nature,  and  fi-om  the  habits  of  my  country,  a  hat^r  of  mysterieSo 
Yet,  such  is  my  firm  confidence  in  your  truth  and  honour,  that 
you  shall  be  my  guide  in  these  dark  and  secret  transactions, 
even  as  amongst  the  mists  and  precipices  of  your  native  land, 
and  I  rest  contented  in  either  case  to  place  unlimited  confidence 
in  your  sagacity.  Let  me  only  recommend  that  your  explana- 
tion with  Charles  be  instant,  as  well  as  clear  and  candid.  Such 
being  the  case,  I  trust  my  poor  interest  with  the  Duke  may  be 
reckoned  for  something  in  your  favour.  Here,  then,  we  part, 
but,  as  I  trust,  soon  to  meet  again.' 

The  elder  Philipson  now  rejoined  his  son,  whom  he  directed 
to  hire  horses,  together  with  a  guide,  to  conduct  them  with  all 
speed  to  the  presence  of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy.  By  various 
inquiries  in  the  town,  and  especially  among  the  soldiers  of  the 


212  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

slain  De  Hagenbach,  they  at  length  learned  that  Charles  had 
been  of  late  occupied  in  taking  possession  of  Lorraine,  and, 
being  now  suspicious  of  unfriendly  dispositions  on  the  part  of 
the  Emperor  of  Germany,  as  well  as  of  Sigismund  Duke  of 
Austria,  had  drawn  a  considerable  part  of  his  army  together 
near  Strasburg,  in  order  to  be  prepared  against  any  attempt  of 
these  princes,  or  of  the  Free  Imperial  Cities,  which  might 
interfere  with  his  course  of  conquest.  The  Duke  of  Burgundy 
at  this  period  well  deserved  his  peculiar  epithet  of  the  Bold, 
since,  surrounded  by  enemies,  like  one  of  the  nobler  animals  of 
the  chase,  he  yet  astounded,  by  his  stern  and  daring  counte- 
nance, not  only  the  princes  and  states  we  have  mentioned,  but 
even  the  King  of  France,  equally  powerful,  and  far  more  politic 
than  himself. 

To  his  camp,  therefore,  the  English  travellers  bent  their 
way,  each  full  of  such  deep  and  melancholy  reflection  as,  per- 
haps, prevented  his  bestowing  much  attention  on  the  other's 
state  of  mind.  They  rode  as  men  deeply  immersed  in  their 
own  thoughts,  and  with  less  intercourse  than  had  been  usual 
betwixt  them  on  their  former  journeys.  The  nobleness  of  the 
elder  Philipson's  nature,  and  his  respect  for  the  Landamman's 

Eirobity,  joined  with  gratitude  for  his  hospitality,  had  prevented 
im  from  separating  his  cause  from  that  of  the  Swiss  deputies, 
nor  did  he  now  repent  his  generosity  in  adhering  to  them. 
But  when  he  recollected  the  nature  and  importance  of  the  per- 
sonal affairs  which  he  himself  had  to  despatch  with  a  proud, 
imperious,  and  irritable  prince,  he  could  not  but  regret  the 
circumstances  which  had  involved  his  own  particular  mission, 
of  so  much  consequence  to  himself  and  his  friends,  with  that  of 
persons  likely  to  be  so  highly  obnoxious  to  the  Duke  as  Arnold 
Biederman  and  his  companions ;  and,  however  grateful  for  the 
hospitality  of  Geierstein,  he  regretted,  nevertheless,  the  circum- 
stances which  had  obliged  him  to  accept  of  it. 

The  thoughts  of  Arthur  were  no  less  anxious.  He  found 
himself  anew  separated  from  the  object  to  which  his  thoughts 
were,  almost  against  his  own  will,  constantly  returning.  And 
this  second  separation  had  taken  place  after  he  had  incurred  an 
additional  load  of  gratitude,  and  found  new,  as  well  as  more 
mysterious,  food  for  his  ardent  imagination.  How  was  he  to 
reconcile  the  character  and  attributes  of  Anne  of  Geierstein, 
whom  he  had  known  so  gentle,  candid,  pure,  and  simple, 
with  those  of  the  daughter  of  a  sage  and  of  an  elementary 
spirit,  to  whom  night  was  as  day,  and  an  impervious  dungeon 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  2l3 

the  same  as  the  open  portico  of  a  temple  'i  Could  they  be 
identified  as  the  same  being  ?  or,  while  strictly  alike  in  shape 
and  lineament,  was  the  one  a  tenant  of  the  earth,  the  other  only 
a  phantom,  permitted  to  show  itself  among  those  of  a  nature 
in  which  she  did  not  partake  ?  Above  all,  must  he  never  see 
her  more,  or  receive  from  her  own  lips  an  explanation  of  the 
mysteries  which  were  so  awfully  entwined  with  his  recollec- 
tions of  her  ?  Such  were  the  questions  which  occupied  the 
mind  of  the  younger  traveller,  and  prevented  him  from  in- 
terrupting, or  even  observing,  the  reverie  in  which  his  father 
was  plunged. 

Had  either  of  the  travellers  been  disposed  to  derive  amuse- 
ment from  the  country  through  which  their  road  lay,  the 
vicinity  of  the  Rhine  was  well  qualified  to  afford  it.  The 
ground  on  the  left  bank  of  that  noble  river  is  indeed  rather 
flat  and  tame  ;  and  the  mountains  of  Alsace,  a  ridge  of  which 
sweeps  along  its  course,  do  not  approach  so  near  as  greatly  to 
vary  the  level  surface  of  the  valley  which  divides  them  from 
its  shores.  But  the  broad  stream  itself,  hurrying  forward  with 
dizzy  rapidity,  and  rushing  around  the  islets  by  which  its 
course  is  interrupted,  is  one  of  the  most  majestic  spectacles  in 
nature.  The  right  bank  is  dignified  at  once  and  adorned  by 
the  numerous  eminences,  covered  with  wood  and  interspersed 
with  valleys,  which  constitute  the  district  so  well  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Black  Forest,  to  which  superstition  attached 
so  many  terrors  and  credulity  such  a  variety  of  legends. 
Terrors,  indeed,  it  had  of  a  real  and  existing  character.  The 
old  castles,  seen  from  time  to  time  on  the  banks  of  the  river 
itself,  or  on  the  ravines  and  large  brooks  which  flow  into  it, 
were  then  no  picturesque  ruins,  rendered  interesting  by  the 
stories  which  were  told  about  their  former  inhabitants,  but 
constituted  the  real  and  apparently  impregnable  strongholds 
of  that  robber-chivalry  whom  we  have  already  frequently  men- 
tioned, and  of  whom,  since  Goethe,  an  author  born  to  arouse 
the  slumbering  fame  of  his  country,  has  dramatised  the  story 
of  Goetz  of  Berlichingen,  we  have  had  so  many  spirit-stirring 
tales.  The  danger  attending  the  vicinity  of  these  fortresses 
was  only  known  on  the  right  or  German  bank  of  the  Rhine, 
for  the  breadth  and  depth  of  that  noble  stream  effectually 
prevented  any  foray  of  their  inhabitants  from  reaching  Alsace. 
The  former  was  in  possession  of  the  cities  or  free  towns  of  the 
Empire,  and  thus  the  feudal  tyranny  of  the  German  lords  was 
chiefly  exerted  at  the  expense  of  their  own  countrymen,  who, 


214  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

irritated  and  exhausted  with  their  rapine  and  oppression,  were 
compelled  to  erect  barriers  against  it,  of  a  nature  as  interest- 
ing and  extraordinary  as  were  the  wrongs  from  which  they 
endeavoured  to  protect  themselves. 

But  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  over  great  part  of  which 
Charles  of  Burgundy  exercised  his  authority,  under  various 
characters,  was  under  the  regular  protection  of  the  ordinary 
magistrates,  who  were  supported  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty 
by  large  bands  of  mercenary  soldiers.  These  were  maintained 
by  Charles  out  of  his  private  revenue,  he,  as  well  as  his  rival 
Louis,  and  other  princes  of  the  period,  having  discovered  that 
the  feudal  system  gave  an  inconvenient  degree  of  independence 
to  their  vassals,  and  thinking,  of  course,  that  it  was  better  to 
substitute  in  its  place  a  standing  army,  consisting  of  Free 
Companies,  or  soldiers  by  profession.  Italy  furnished  most  of 
these  bands,  which  composed  the  strength  of  Charles's  army, 
at  least  the  part  of  it  in  which  he  most  trusted. 

Our  travellers,  therefore,  pursued  their  way  by  the  banks 
of  the  river,  in  as  great  a  degree  of  security  as  could  well  be 
enjoyed  in  that  violent  and  distracted  time,  until  at  length 
the  father,  after  having  eyed  for  some  time  the  person  whom 
Arthur  had  hired  to  be  their  guide,  suddenly  asked  of  his  son 
who  or  what  the  man  was.  Arthur  replied,  that  he  had  been 
too  eager  to  get  a  person  who  knew  the  road,  and  was  willing 
to  show  it,  to  be  very  particular  in  inquiring  into  his  station 
or  occupation;  but  that  he  thought,  from  the  man's  appear- 
ance, he  must  be  one  of  those  itinerant  ecclesiastics  who  travel 
through  the  country  with  relics,  pardons,  and  other  religious 
trinkets,  and  were  in  general  but  slightly  respected,  excepting 
by  the  lower  orders,  on  whom  these  venders  of  superstitious 
wares  were  often  accused  of  practising  gross  deceptions. 

The  man's  appearance  was  rather  that  of  a  lay  devotee,  or 
palmer,  bound  on  his  pilgrimage  to  different  shrines,  than  of  a 
mendicant  friar  or  questionary.  He  wore  the  hat,  scrip,  staff, 
and  coarse  dalmatic,  somewhat  like  the  military  cloak  of  the 
modern  hussar,  which  were  used  by  such  persons  on  their 
religious  peregrinations.  St.  Peter's  keys,  rudely  shaped  out 
of  some  scarlet  rag  of  cloth,  appeared  on  the  back  of  his 
mantle,  placed,  as  heralds  say,  saltire  wise.  This  devotee 
seemed  a  man  of  fifty  and  upwards,  well  made,  and  stout  for 
his  age,  with  a  cast  of  countenance  which,  though  not  positively 
ugly,  was  far  from  being  well  favoured.  There  was  shrewdness 
and  an  alert  expression  in  his  eye  and  actions,  which  made  some 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  215 

occasional  contrast  with  the  sanctimonious  demeanour  of  the 
character  he  now  bore.  This  difference  betwixt  his  dress  and 
physiognomy  was  by  no  means  uncommon  among  persons  of 
his  description,  many  of  whom  embraced  this  mode  of  Kfe 
rather  to  indulge  roving  and  idle  habits  than  from  any  reli- 
gious call. 

'  Who  art  thou,  good  fellow  1 '  said  the  elder  Philipson  ;  *  and 
by  what  name  am  1  to  call  thee  while  we  are  fellow-travellers  1 ' 

'Bartholomew,  sir,'  said  the  man — 'Brother  Bartholomew 
—  I  might  say  Bartholomaeus,  but  it  does  not  become  a  poor 
lay  brother  like  me  to  aspire  to  the  honour  of  a  learned 
termination.' 

'And  whither  does  thy  journey  tend,  good  Brother  Bar- 
tholomew 1 ' 

'  In  whichever  direction  your  worship  chooses  to  travel,  and 
to  require  my  services  as  guide,'  answered  the  palmer ;  '  always 
premising  you  allow  me  leisure  for  my  devotions  at  such  holy 
stations  as  we  pass  on  our  route.' 

'That  is,  thine  own  journey  hath  no  professed  or  pressing 
object  or  end  ? '  said  the  Englishman. 

'  None,  as  your  worship  says,  peculiar,'  said  the  itinerant ; 
'  or  I  might  rather  say,  that  my  journey,  good  sir,  embraces  so 
many  objects,  that  it  is  matter  of  indifference  to  me  which  of 
them  I  accomplish  first.  My  vow  binds  me  for  four  years  to 
travel  from  one  shrine,  or  holy  place,  to  another;  but  I  am 
not  directly  tied  to  visit  them  by  any  precise  rule  of  rotation.' 

'  That  is  to  say,  thy  vow  of  pilgrimage  does  not  prevent 
thee  from  hiring  thyself  to  wait  upon  travellers  as  their  guide,' 
replied  Philipson. 

'If  I  can  unite  the  devotion  I  owe  to  the  blessed  saints 
whose  shrines  I  visit  with  a  service  rendered  to  a  wandering 
feUow-creature  who  desires  to  be  directed  upon  his  journey,  I 
do  maintain,'  replied  Bartholomew,  '  that  the  objects  are  easily 
to  be  reconciled  to  each  other.' 

'  Especially  as  a  little  worldly  profit  may  tend  to  cement  the 
two  duties  together,  if  otherwise  incompatible,'  said  Philipson. 

'  It  pleases  your  honour  to  say  so,'  replied  the  pilgrim ;  'but 
you  yourself  may,  if  you  wiU,  derive  from  my  good  company 
something  more  than  the  mere  knowledge  of  the  road  in  which 
you  propose  to  travel.  I  can  make  your  journey  more  edifying 
by  legends  of  the  blessed  saints  whose  holy  relics  I  have  visited, 
and  pleasing,  by  the  story  of  the  wonderful  things  which  I  have 
seen  and  heard  in  my  travels.     I  can  impart  to  you  an  oppor- 


216  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

tunity  of  providing  yourself  with  his  Holiness's  pardon,  not 
only  for  the  sins  which  you  have  committed,  but  also  granting 
you  indulgence  for  future  errors/ 

'These  things  are  highly  available,  doubtless,'  replied  the 
merchant ;  *  but,  good  Bartholomew,  when  I  desire  to  speak  of 
them,  I  apply  to  my  father  confessor,  to  whom  I  have  been 
uniformly  regular  in  committing  the  charge  of  my  conscience, 
and  who  must  be,  therefore,  well  acquainted  with  my  state  of 
mind,  and  best  accustomed  to  prescribe  what  its  case  may 
require.' 

'  Nevertheless,'  said  Bartholomew,  *  I  trust  your  worship  is 
too  religious  a  man,  and  too  sound  a  Catholic,  to  pass  any 
hallowed  station  without  endeavouring  to  obtain  some  share  of 
the  benefits  which  it  is  the  means  of  dispensing  to  those  who 
are  ready  and  willing  to  deserve  them ;  more  especially  as  all 
men,  of  whatever  trade  and  degree,  hold  respect  to  the  holy 
saint  who  patroniseth  his  own  mystery ;  so  I  hope  you,  being 
a  merchant,  will  not  pass  the  chapel  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Ferry 
without  making  some  fitting  orison.' 

*  Friend  Bartholomew,'  said  Philipson,  '  I  have  not  heard  of 
the  shrine  which  you  recommend  to  me ;  and,  as  my  business 
is  pressing,  it  were  better  worth  my  while  to  make  a  pilgrim- 
age hither  on  purpose  to  make  mine  homage  at  a  fitter  season 
than  to  delay  my  journey  at  present.  This,  God  willing,  I  will 
not  fail  to  do,  so  that  I  may  be  held  excused  for  delaying  my 
reverence  till  I  can  pay  it  more  respectfully,  and  at  greater 
leisure.' 

'May  it  please  you  not  to  be  wroth,'  said  the  guide,  'if  I 
say  that  your  behaviour  in  this  matter  is  like  that  of  a  fool, 
who,  finding  a  treasure  by  the  roadside,  omits  to  put  it  in  his 
bosom  and  carry  it  along  with  him,  proposing  to  return  fi'om 
a  distance  on  a  future  day,  of  express  purpose  to  fetch  it.' 

Philipson,  something  astonished  at  the  man's  pertinacity, 
was  about  to  answer  hastily  and  angrily,  but  was  prevented  by 
the  arrival  of  three  strangers,  who  rode  hastily  up  from  behind 
them. 

The  foremost  of  these  was  a  young  female,  most  elegantly 
attired,  and  mounted  upon  a  Spanish  jennet,  which  she  reined 
with  singular  grace  and  dexterity.  She  wore  on  her  right 
hand  such  a  glove  as  that  which  was  used  to  carry  hawks,  and 
had  a  merlin  perched  upon  it.  Her  head  was  covered  with  a 
montero  cap,  and,  as  was  irequently  the  custom  at  the  period, 
she  wore  on  her  face  a  kind  of  black  silk  vizard,  which  effectually 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  217 

concealed  her  features.  Notwithstanding  this  disguise,  Arthur 
Philipson's  heart  sprung  high  at  the  appearance  of  these 
strangers,  for  he  was  at  once  certain  he  recognised  the  match- 
less form  of  the  Swiss  maiden,  by  whom  his  mind  was  so 
anxiously  occupied.  Her  attendants  were  a  falconer  with  his 
hunting-pole  and  a  female,  both  apparently  her  domestics. 
The  elder  Philipson,  who  had  no  such  accuracy  of  recollection 
as  his  son  manifested  upon  the  occasion,  saw  in  the  fair  stranger 
only  some  dame  or  damsel  of  eminence  engaged  in  the  amuse- 
ment of  hawking,  and,  in  return  to  a  brief  salutation,  merely 
asked  her,  with  suitable  courtesy,  as  the  case  demanded,  whether 
she  had  spent  the  morning  in  good  sport.    • 

'Indifferent,  good  friend,'  said  the  lady.  *I  dare  not  fly 
my  hawk  so  near  the  broad  river,  lest  he  should  soar  to  the 
other  side,  and  so  I  might  lose  my  companion.  But  I  reckon 
on  finding  better  game  when  I  have  crossed  to  the  other  side  of 
the  ferry,  which  we  are  now  approaching.' 

'  Then  your  ladyship,'  said  Bartholomew,  *  will  hear  mass  in 
Hans's  Chapel,  and  pray  for  your  success  ? ' 

'  I  were  a  heathen  to  pass  the  holy  place  without  doing  so,' 
replied  the  damsel. 

'That,  noble  damsel,  touches  the  point  we  were  but  now 
talking  of,'  said  the  guide  Bartholomew;  'for  know,  fair  mis- 
tress, that  I  cannot  persuade  this  worthy  gentleman  how 
deeply  the  success  of  his  enterprise  is  dependent  upon  his 
obtaining  the  blessing  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Ferry.' 

'  The  good  man,'  said  the  young  maiden,  seriously,  and  even 
severely,  '  must  know  little  of  the  Rhine.  I  will  explain  to  the 
gentlemen  the  propriety  of  following  your  advice.' 

She  then  rode  close  to  young  Philipson,  and  spoke  in  Swiss, 
for  she  had  hitherto  used  the  German  language  —  '  Do  not  start, 
but  hear  me ! '  and  the  voice  was  that  of  Anne  of  Geierstein. 
'  Do  not,  I  say,  be  surprised,  or  at  least  show  not  your  wonder  ; 
you  are  beset  by  dangers.  On  this  road,  especially,  your  busi- 
ness is  known  —  your  lives  are  laid  in  wait  for.  Cross  over 
the  river  at  the  Ferry  of  the  Chapel,  or  Hans's  Ferry,  as  it  is 
usually  termed.' 

Here  the  guide  drew  so  near  to  them  that  it  was  impossible 
for  her  to  continue  the  conversation  without  being  overheard. 
At  that  same  moment  a  woodcock  sprung  from  some  bushes, 
and  the  young  lady  threw  off  her  merlin  in  pursuit. 

'  Sa  ho  —  sa  ho  —  wo  ha  ! '  hallooed  the  falconer,  in  a  note 
which  made  the  thicket  ring  again;  and  away  he  rode  in 


218  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

pursuit.  The  elder  Philipson  and  the  guide  himself  followed 
the  chase  eagerly  with  their  eyes,  so  attractive  was  the  love  of 
that  brave  sport  to  men  of  all  ranks.  But  the  voice  of  the 
maiden  was  a  lure  which  would  have  summoned  Arthur's 
attention  from  matters  more  deeply  interesting. 

'Cross  the  Rhine,'  she  again  repeated,  *at  the  ferry  to 
Kirchhoff,  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  Take  your  lodgings 
at  the  Golden  Fleece,  where  you  will  find  a  guide  to  Strasburg. 
I  must  stay  here  no  longer.' 

So  saying,  the  damsel  raised  herself  in  her  saddle,  struck 
her  horse  lightly  with  the  loose  reins,  and  the  mettled  animal, 
abeady  impatient  at  her  delay  and  the  eager  burst  of  its  com- 
panions, flew  forward  at  such  a  pace  as  if  he  had  meant  to 
emulate  the  flight  of  the  hawk  and  of  the  prey  he  pursued. 
The  lady  and  her  attendants  soon  vanished  from  the  sight  of 
the  travellers. 

A  deep  silence  for  some  time  ensued,  during  which  Arthur 
studied  how  to  communicate  the  warning  he  had  received, 
without  awakening  the  suspicions  of  their  guide.  But  the 
old  man  broke  silence  himself,  saying  to  Bartholomew,  '  Put 
your  horse  into  more  motion,  I  pray  you,  and  ride  onward 
a  few  yards;  I  would  have  some  private  conference  with 
my  son.' 

The  guide  obeyed,  and,  as  if  with  the  purpose  of  showing  a 
mind  too  profoundly  occupied  by  heavenly  matters  to  admit 
a  thought  concerning  those  of  this  transitory  world,  he  thun- 
dered forth  a  hymn  in  praise  of  St.  Wendelin  the  shepherd,  in 
a  strain  so  discordant  as  startled  every  bird  from  every  bush 
by  which  they  passed.  There  was  never  a  more  unmelodious 
melody,  whether  sacred  or  profane,  than  that  under  protection 
of  which  the  elder  Philipson  thus  conferred  with  his  son. 

*  Arthur,'  he  said,  'I  am  much  convinced  that  this  howling, 
hypocritical  vagrant  has  some  plot  upon  us ;  and  I  had  well- 
nigh  determined  that  the  best  mode  to  baffle  it  would  be  to 
consult  my  own  opinion,  and  not  his,  as  to  our  places  of  repose 
and  the  direction  of  our  journey.' 

'Your  judgment  is  correct,  as  usual,'  said  his  son.  *I  am 
well  convinced  of  yonder  man's  treachery,  from  a  whisper  in 
which  that  maiden  informed  me  that  we  ought  to  take  the 
road  to  Strasburg  by  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  and  for  that 

urpose  cross  over  to  a  place  called  Kirchhoff,  on  the  opposite 

ank.' 

*  Do  you  advise  this,  Arthur  ? '  replied  his  father. 


I 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  219 

*  I  will  pledge  my  life  for  the  faith  of  this  young  person,' 
replied  his  son. 

*  What ! '  said  his  father,  '  because  she  sits  her  palfrey  fairly, 
and  shows  a  faultless  shape  1  Such  is  the  reasoning  of  a  boy ; 
and  yet  my  own  old  and  cautious  heart  feels  inclined  to  trust 
her.  If  our  secret  is  known  in  this  land,  there  are  doubtless 
many  who  may  be  disposed  to  think  they  have  an  interest  in 
barring  my  access  to  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  even  by  the  most 
violent  means ;  and  well  you  know  that  I  should  on  my  side 
hold  my  life  equally  cheap  could  I  discharge  mine  errand  at 
the  price  of  laying  it  down.  I  tell  thee,  Arthur,  that  my  mind 
reproaches  me  for  taking  hitherto  over  little  care  of  ensuring 
the  discharge  of  my  commission,  owing  to  the  natural  desire  I 
had  to  keep  thee  in  my  company.  There  now  lie  before  us 
two  ways,  both  perilous  and  uncertain,  by  which  we  may  reach 
the  Duke's  court.  We  may  follow  this  guide  and  take  the 
chance  of  his  fidelity,  or  we  may  adopt  the  hint  of  yonder 
damsel-errant  and  cross  over  to  the  other  side  of  the  Rhine, 
and  again  repass  the  river  at  Strasburg.  Both  roads  are  per- 
haps equally  perilous.  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  diminish  the  risk 
of  the  miscarriage  of  my  commission  by  sending  thee  across  to 
the  right  bank,  while  I  pursue  my  proposed  course  upon  the 
left.  Thus,  if  one  of  us  be  intercepted,  the  other  may  escape, 
and  the  important  commission  which  he  bears  may  be  duly 
executed.' 

'  Alas,  my  father ! '  said  Arthur,  *  how  is  it  possible  for  me 
to  obey  you,  when  by  doing  so  I  must  leave  you  alone  to  incur 
so  many  dangers,  to  struggle  with  so  many  difficulties,  in 
which  my  aid  might  be  at  least  willing,  though  it  could  only 
be  weak  ?  Whatever  befall  us  in  these  delicate  and  dangerous 
circumstances,  let  us  at  least  meet  it  in  company.' 

'Arthur,  my  beloved  son,'  said  his  father,  *in  parting  from 
thee  I  am  splitting  mine  own  heart  in  twain ;  but  the  same 
duty  which  commands  us  to  expose  our  bodies  to  death  as 
peremptorily  orders  us  not  to  spare  our  most  tender  afiections. 
We  must  part.' 

'Oh,  then,'  replied  his  son,  eagerly,  'let  me  at  least  prevail 
in  one  point.  Do  thou,  my  father,  cross  the  Rhine,  and  let  me 
prosecute  the  journey  by  the  route  originally  proposed.' 

'And  why,  I  pray  you,'  answered  the  merchant,  'should  I 
go  one  of  these  roads  in  preference  to  the  other  1 ' 

'Because,'  said  Arthur,  eagerly,  'I  would  warrant  yonder 
maiden's  faith  with  my  life.' 


220  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

'Again,  young  man?'  said  his  father;  'and  wherefore  so 
confident  in  that  young  maiden's  faith  ?  Is  it  merely  from  the 
confidence  which  youth  reposes  in  that  which  is  fair  and  pleas- 
ing, or  have  you  had  farther  acquaintance  with  her  than  the 
late  brief  conversation  with  her  admitted  1 ' 

'  Can  I  give  you  an  answer  ? '  replied  his  son.  '  We  have 
been  long  absent  from  lands  of  knights  and  ladies,  and  is  it 
not  natural  that  we  should  give  to  those  who  remind  us  of  the 
honoured  ties  of  chivalry  and  gentle  blood  the  instinctive 
credence  which  we  refuse  to  such  a  poor  wretch  as  this  itiner- 
ant mountebank,  who  gains  his  existence  by  cheating,  with  false 
relics  and  forged  legends,  the  poor  peasants  amongst  whom  he 
travels  ? ' 

*  It  is  a  vain  imagination,  Arthur,'  said  his  father,  'not  un- 
befitting, indeed,  an  aspirant  to  the  honours  of  chivalry,  who 
draws  his  ideas  of  life  and  its  occurrences  from  the  romances  of 
the  minstrels,  but  too  visionary  for  a  youth  who  has  seen,  as 
thou  hast,  how  the  business  of  this  world  is  conducted.  I  teU 
thee,  and  thou  wilt  learn  to  know  I  say  truth,  that  around  the 
homely  board  of  our  host  the  Landamman  were  ranged  truer 
tongues  and  more  faithful  hearts  than  the  cour  pleniere  of  a 
monarch  has  to  boast.  Alas  !  the  manly  spirit  of  ancient  faith 
and  honour  has  fled  even  from  the  breast  of  kings  and  knights, 
where,  as  John  of  France  said,  it  ought  to  continue  to  reside 
a  constant  inhabitant,  if  banished  from  all  the  rest  of  the 
world.' 

'Be  that  as  it  may,  dearest  father,'  replied  the  younger 
Philipson,  '  I  pray  you  to  be  persuaded  by  me ;  and  if  we  must 
part  company,  let  it  be  by  your  taking  the  right  bank  of  the 
Rhine,  since  I  am  persuaded  it  is  the  safest  route.' 

'And  if  it  be  the  safest,'  said  his  father,  with  a  voice  of 
tender  reproach,  '  is  that  a  reason  why  I  should  spare  my  own 
almost  exhausted  thread  of  life,  and  expose  thine,  my  dear  son, 
which  has  but  begun  its  course  ? ' 

'  Nay,  father,'  answered  the  son  with  animation,  '  in  speaking 
thus  you  do  not  consider  the  difference  of  our  importance  to 
the  execution  of  the  purpose  which  you  have  so  long  enter- 
tained, and  which  seems  now  so  nigh  being  accomplished. 
Think  how  imperfectly  I  might  be  able  to  discharge  it,  without 
knowledge  of  the  Duke's  person,  or  credentials  to  gain  his 
confidence.  I  might  indeed  repeat  your  words,  but  the  cir- 
cumstances would  be  wanting  to  attract  the  necessary  faith, 
and  of  consequence  your  scheme,  for  the  success  of  which  you 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  221 

have  lived,  and  now  are  willing  to  run  the  risk  of  death,  would 
miscarry  along  with  me.' 

'  You  cannot  shake  my  resolution,'  said  the  elder  Philipson, 
'  or  persuade  me  that  my  life  is  of  more  importance  than  yours. 
You  only  remind  me  that  it  is  you,  and  not  I,  who  ought  to  be 
the  bearer  of  this  token  to  the  Duke  of  Burgundy.  Should 
you  be  successful  in  reaching  his  court  or  camp,  your  possession 
of  these  gems  will  be  needful  to  attach  credit  to  your  mission  — 
a  purpose  for  which  they  would  be  less  necessary  to  me,  who 
can  refer  to  other  circumstances  under  which  I  might  claim 
credence,  if  it  should  please  Heaven  to  leave  me  alone  to  acquit 
myself  of  this  important  commisson,  which  may  Our  Lady  in 
her  mercy  forefend!  Understand,  therefore,  that,  should  an 
opportunity  occur  by  which  you  can  make  your  way  to  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Rhine,  you  are  to  direct  your  journey  so  as 
again  to  cross  to  this  bank  at  Strasburg,  where  you  will  inquire 
for  news  of  me  at  the  Flying  Stag,  a  hostelry  in  that  city, 
which  you  vrill  easily  discover.  If  you  hear  no  tidings  of  me 
at  that  place,  you  will  proceed  to  the  Duke,  and  deliver  to  him 
this  important  packet.' 

Here  he  put  into  his  son's  hand,  with  as  much  privacy  as 
possible,  the  case  containing  the  diamond  necklace. 

'What  else  your  duty  calls  on  you  to  do,'  continued  the 
elder  Philipson,  'you  well  know;  only,  I  conjure  you,  let  no 
vain  inquiries  after  my  fate  interfere  with  the  great  duty  you 
have  there  to  discharge.  In  the  meantime,  prepare  to  bid  me 
a  sudden  farewell,  with  a  heart  as  bold  and  confident  as  when 
you  went  before  me,  and  courageously  led  the  way,  amid  the 
rocks  and  storms  of  Switzerland.  Heaven  was  above  us  then, 
as  it  is  over  us  now.  Adieu,  my  beloved  Arthur !  Should  I 
wait  till  the  moment  of  separation,  there  may  be  but  short 
time  to  speak  the  fatal  word,  and  no  eye  save  thine  own  must 
see  the  tear  which  I  now  wipe  away.' 

The  painful  feeling  which  accompanied  this  anticipation  of 
their  parting  was  so  sincere  on  Arthur's  part,  as  well  as  that  of 
his  father,  that  it  did  not  at  first  occur  to  the  former,  as  a 
source  of  consolation,  that  it  seemed  likely  he  might  be  placed 
under  the  guidance  of  the  singular  female  the  memory  of 
whom  haunted  him.  True  it  was,  that  the  beauty  of  Anne  of 
Geierstein,  as  well  as  the  striking  circumstances  in  which  she 
had  exhibited  herself,  had  on  that  very  morning  been  the  prin- 
cipal occupation  of  his  mind ;  but  they  were  now  chased  from 
it  by  the  predominant  recollection  that  he  was  about  to  be 


S22  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

separated  in  a  moment  of  danger  from  a  father  so  well  deserv- 
ing of  his  highest  esteem  and  his  fondest  affection. 

Meanwhile,  that  father  dashed  from  his  eye  the  tear  which 
his  devoted  stoicism  could  not  suppress,  and,  as  if  afraid  of 
softening  his  resolution  by  indulging  his  parental  fondness,  he 
recalled  the  pious  Bartholomew,  to  demand  of  him  how  far  they 
were  from  the  Chapel  of  the  Ferry. 

*  Little  more  than  a  mile,'  was  the  reply;  and  when  the 
Englishman  required  further  information  concerning  the  cause 
of  its  erection,  he  was  informed  that  an  old  boatman  and  fisher- 
man named  Hans  had  long  dwelt  at  the  place,  who  gained  a 
precarious  livelihood  by  transporting  travellers  and  merchants 
from  one  bank  of  the  river  to  the  other.  The  misfortune, 
however,  of  losing  first  one  boat  and  then  a  second  in  the  deep 
and  mighty  stream,  with  the  dread  inspired  in  travellers  by 
the  repetition  of  such  accidents,  began  to  render  his  profession 
an  uncertain  one.  Being  a  good  Catholic,  the  old  man's  dis- 
tress took  a  devotional  turn.  He  began  to  look  back  on  his 
former  life,  and  consider  by  what  crimes  he  had  deserved  the 
misfortunes  which  darkened  the  evening  of  his  days.  His 
remorse  was  chiefly  excited  by  the  recollection  that  he  had,  on 
one  occasion,  when  the  passage  was  peculiarly  stormy,  refused 
to  discharge  his  duty  as  a  ferryman  in  order  to  transport  to 
the  other  shore  a  priest  who  bore  along  with  him  an  image  of 
the  Virgin,  destined  for  the  village  of  Kirchhoff  on  the  opposite 
or  right  bank  of  the  Rhine.  For  this  fault,  Hans  submitted  to 
severe  penance,  as  he  was  now  disposed  to  consider  as  culpable 
his  doubt  of  the  Virgin's  power  of  protecting  herself,  her  priest, 
and  the  bark  employed  in  her  service;  besides  which,  the 
offering  of  a  large  share  of  his  worldly  goods  to  the  church  of 
Kirchhoff  expressed  the  truth  of  the  old  man's  repentance. 
Neither  did  he  ever  again  permit  himself  to  interpose  any 
delay  in  the  journey  of  men  of  Holy  Church ;  but  all  ranks  of 
the  clergy,  from  the  mitred  prelate  to  the  barefooted  IHar, 
might  at  any  time  of  day  or  night  have  commanded  the  services 
of  him  and  his  boat. 

While  prosecuting  so  laudable  a  course  of  life,  it  became  at 
length  the  lot  of  Hans  to  find,  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  a 
small  image  of  the  Virgin  thrown  by  the  waves,  which  ap- 
peared to  him  exactly  to  resemble  that  which  he  had  formerly 
ungraciously  refused  to  carry  across,  when  under  charge  of 
the  sacristan  of  Kirchhoff.  He  placed  it  in  the  most  con- 
spicuous part  of  his  hut,  and  poured  out  his  soul  before  it  in 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  223 

devotion,  anxiously  inquiring  for  some  signal  by  wliicli  he 
might  discover  whether  he  was  to  consider  the  arrival  of  her 
holy  image  as  a  pledge  that  his  offences  were  forgiven.  In  the 
visions  of  the  night  his  prayers  were  answered,  and  Our  Lady, 
assuming  the  form  of  the  image,  stood  by  his  bedside,  for  the 
purpose  of  telling  him  wherefore  she  had  come  hither. 

'  My  trusty  servant,'  she  said,  '  men  of  Belial  have  burned 
my  dwelling  at  Kirchhoff,  spoiled  my  chapel,  and  thrown  the 
sacred  image  which  represents  me  into  the  swollen  Rhine, 
which  swept  me  downward.  Now,  I  have  resolved  to  dwell  no 
longer  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  profane  doers  of  this  deed, 
or  of  the  cowardly  vassals  who  dared  not  prevent  it.  I  am, 
therefore,  compelled  to  remove  my  habitation,  and,  in  despite 
of  the  opposing  current,  I  determined  to  take  the  shore  on 
this  side,  being  resolved  to  fix  my  abode  with  thee,  my  faithful 
servant,  that  the  land  in  which  thou  dwellest  may  be  blessed, 
as  well  as  thou  and  thy  household.' 

As  the  vision  spoke,  she  seemed  to  wring  from  her  tresses 
the  water  in  which  they  had  been  steeped,  while  her  disordered 
dress  and  fatigued  appearance  was  that  of  one  who  has  been 
buffeting  with  the  waves. 

Next  morning  brought  intelligence  that,  in  one  of  the  numer- 
ous feuds  of  that  fierce  period,  Kirchhoff  had  been  sacked,  the 
church  destroyed,  and  the  church  treasury  plundered. 

In  consequence  of  the  fisherman's  vision  being  thus  re- 
markably confirmed,  Hans  entirely  renounced  his  profession ; 
and,  leaving  it  to  younger  men  to  supply  his  place  as  ferryman, 
he  converted  his  hut  into  a  rustic  chapel,  and  he  himself,  taking 
orders,  attended  upon  the  shrine  as  a  hermit,  or  daily  chaplain. 
The  figure  was  supposed  to  work  miracles,  and  the  ferry  became 
renowned  from  its  being  under  the  protection  of  the  holy  image 
of  Our  Lady,  and  her  no  less  holy  servant. 

When  Bartholomew  had  concluded  his  account  of  the  ferry 
and  its  chapel,  the  travellers  had  arrived  at  the  place  itself. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

Upon  the  Rhine,  upon  the  Rhine  they  cluster, 

The  grapes  of  juice  divine, 
Which  makes  the  soldier's  jovial  courage  muster; 

0,  blessed  be  the  Rhine  ! 

Brinkvrvg  SongA- 

A  COTTAGE  or  two  on  the  side  of  the  river,  beside 
which  were  moored  one  or  two  fishing-boats,  showed 
the  pious  Hans  had  successors  in  his  profession  as  a 
boatman.  The  river,  which  at  a  point  a  little  lower  was  re- 
strained by  a  chain  of  islets,  expanded  more  widely  and  moved 
less  rapidly  than  when  it  passed  these  cottages,  affording  to  the 
ferryman  a  smoother  surface  and  a  less  heavy  stream  to  con- 
tend with,  although  the  current  was  even  there  too  strong  to 
be  borne  up  against,  unless  the  river  was  in  a  tranquil  state. 

On  the  opposite  bank,  but  a  good  deal  lower  than  the  hamlet 
which  gave  name  to  the  ferry,  was  seated  on  a  small  eminence, 
screened  by  trees  and  bushes,  the  little  town  of  Kirchhoff.  A 
skiff  departing  from  the  left  bank  was,  even  on  favourable 
occasions,  carried  considerably  to  leeward  ere  it  could  attain 
the  opposite  side  of  the  deep  and  full  stream  of  the  Rhine,  so 
that  its  course  was  oblique  towards  Kirchhoff.  On  the  other 
hand,  a  boat  departing  from  Kirchhoff  must  have  great  advan- 
tage, both  of  wind  and  oars,  in  order  to  land  its  loading  or  crew 
at  the  Chapel  of  the  Ferry,  unless  it  were  under  the  miraculous 
influence  which  carried  the  image  of  the  Virgin  in  that  direction. 
The  communication,  therefore,  from  the  east  to  the  west  bank 
was  only  maintained  by  towing  boats  up  the  stream  to  such  a 
height  on  the  eastern  side  that  the  leeway  which  they  made 
during  the  voyage  across  might  correspond  with  the  point  at 
which  they  desired  to  arrive,  and  enable  them  to  attain  it  with 
ease.  Hence,  it  naturally  happened  that,  the  passage  from 
Alsace  into  Swabia  being  the  most  easy,  the  ferry  was  more 

1  See  '  Der  Rhein,  der  Rhein.'    Note  4. 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  2^5 

used  by  those  who  were  desirous  of  entering  Germany  than  by 
travellers  who  came  in  an  opposite  direction. 

When  the  elder  Philipson  had  by  a  glance  around  him 
ascertained  the  situation  of  the  ferry,  he  said  firmly  to  his 
son,  '  Begone,  my  dear  Arthur,  and  do  what  I  have  commanded 
thee.' 

With  a  heart  rent  with  filial  anxiety,  the  young  man  obeyed, 
and  took  his  soKtary  course  towards  the  cottages,  near  which 
the  barks  were  moored,  which  were  occasionally  used  for  fishing 
as  well  as  for  the  purposes  of  the  ferry. 

*  Your  son  leaves  us  1 '  said  Bartholomew  to  the  elder 
Philipson. 

*  He  does  for  the  present,'  said  his  father,  *as  he  has  certain 
inquiries  to  make  in  yonder  hamlet.' 

'  If  they  be,'  answered  the  guide,  *  any  matters  connected 
with  your  honour's  road,  I  laud  the  saints  that  I  can  better 
answer  your  inquiries  than  those  ignorant  boors,  who  hardly 
understand  your  language.' 

'  If  we  find  that  their  information  needs  thy  commentary,' 
said  Philipson,  *  we  will  request  it ;  meanwhile,  lead  on  to  the 
chapel,  where  my  son  will  join  us.' 

They  moved  towards  the  chapel,  but  with  slow  steps,  each 
turning  his  looks  aside  to  the  fishing-hamlet ;  the  guide  as  if 
striving  to  see  whether  the  younger  traveller  was  returning 
towards  them;  the  father  anxious  to  descry,  on  the  broad 
bosom  of  the  Rhine,  a  sail  unloosed,  to  waft  his  son  across  to 
that  which  might  be  considered  as  the  safer  side.  But,  though 
the  looks  of  both  guide  and  traveller  were  turned  in  the 
direction  of  the  river,  their  steps  carried  them  towards  the 
chapel,  to  which  the  inhabitants,  in  memory  of  the  founder, 
had  given  the  title  of  Hans  Chapelle. 

A  few  trees  scattered  around  gave  an  agreeable  and  silvan 
air  to  the  place;  and  the  chapel,  that  appeared  on  a  rising 
ground  at  some  distance  from  the  hamlet,  was  constructed  in  a 
style  of  pleasing  simplicity,  which  corresponded  with  the  whole 
scene.  Its  small  size  confirmed  the  tradition  that  it  had  origi- 
nally been  merely  the  hut  of  a  peasant ;  and  the  cross  of  fir- 
trees,  covered  with  bark,  attested  the  purpose  to  which  it  was 
now  dedicated.  The  chapel  and  all  around  it  breathed  peace 
and  solemn  tranquillity,  and  the  deep  sound  of  the  mighty 
river  seemed  to  impose  silence  on  each  human  voice  which 
might  presume  to  mingle  with  its  awfal  murmur. 

When  Philipson  arrived  in  the  vicinity,  Bartholomew  took 
VOL.  xxin  — 15 


226  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

the  advantage  afforded  by  his  silence  to  thunder  forth  two 
stanzas  to  the  praise  of  the  Lady  of  the  Ferry  and  her  faithful 
worshipper  Hans,  after  which  he  broke  forth  into  the  rapturous 
exclamation  — '  Come  hither  ye  who  fear  wreck,  here  is  your 
safe  haven  !  Come  hither  ye  who  die  of  thirst,  here  is  a  well 
of  mercy  open  to  you  !  Come  those  who  are  weary  and  far- 
travelled,  this  is  your  place  of  refreshment ! '  And  more  to  the 
same  purpose  he  might  have  said,  but  Philipson  sternly  imposed 
silence  on  him. 

'If  thy  devotion  were  altogether  true,'  he  said,  'it  would  be 
less  clamorous ;  but  it  is  well  to  do  what  is  good  in  itself,  even 
if  it  is  a  hypocrite  who  recommends  it.  Let  us  enter  this 
holy  chapel  and  pray  for  a  fortunate  issue  to  our  precarious 
travels.' 

The  pardoner  caught  up  the  last  words. 

'  Sure  was  I,'  he  said,  '  that  your  worship  is  too  well  advised 
to  pass  this  holy  place  without  imploring  the  protection  and 
influence  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Ferry.  Tarry  but  a  moment 
until  I  find  the  priest  who  serves  the  altar,  that  he  may  say  a 
mass  on  your  behalf.' 

Here  he  was  interrupted  by  the  door  of  the  chapel  suddenly 
opening,  when  an  ecclesiastic  appeared  on  the  threshold. 
Philipson  instantly  knew  the  priest  of  St.  Paul's,  whom  he  had 
seen  that  morning  at  La  Ferette.  Bartholomew  also  knew 
him,  as  it  would  seem ;  for  his  officious,  hypocritical  eloquence 
failed  him  in  an  instant,  and  he  stood  before  the  priest  with 
his  arms  folded  on  his  breast,  like  a  man  who  waits  for  the 
sentence  of  condemnation. 

'Villain,'  said  the  ecclesiastic,  regarding  the  guide  with  a 
severe  countenance,  '  dost  thou  lead  a  stranger  into  the  houses 
of  the  holy  saints,  that  thou  mayst  slay  him  and  possess 
thyself  of  his  spoils  ?  But  Heaven  will  no  longer  bear  with 
thy  perfidy.  Back,  thou  wretch,  to  meet  thy  brother  mis- 
creants, who  are  hastening  hitherward.  Tell  them  thy  arts 
were  unavailing,  and  that  the  innocent  stranger  is  under  my 
protection  —  under  my  protection,  which  those  who  presume  to 
violate  will  meet  with  the  reward  of  Archibald  de  Hagenbach  ! ' 

The  guide  stood  quite  motionless,  while  addressed  by  the 
priest  in  a  manner  equally  menacing  and  authoritative ;  and  no 
sooner  did  the  latter  cease  speaking  than,  without  offering  a 
word  either  in  justification  or  reply,  Bartholomew  turned  round 
and  retreated  at  a  hasty  pace  by  the  same  road  which  had 
conducted  the  traveller  to  the  chapel. 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  227 

*And  do  you,  worthy  Englishman,'  continued  the  priest, 
*  enter  into  this  chapel,  and  perform  in  safety  those  devotions 
by  means  of  which  yonder  hypocrite  designed  to  detain  you 
until  his  brethren  in  iniquity  came  up.  But  first,  wherefore 
are  you  alone  1  I  trust  nought  evil  hath  befallen  your  young 
companion  ? ' 

'My  son,'  said  Philipson,  'crosses  the  Rhine  at  yonder  ferry, 
as  we  had  important  business  to  transact  on  the  other  side.' 

As  he  spoke  thus,  a  light  boat,  about  which  two  or  three 
peasants  had  been  for  some  time  busy,  was  seen  to  push  from 
the  shore,  and  shoot  into  the  stream,  to  which  it  was  partly 
compelled  to  give  way,  until  a  sail  stretched  along  the  slender 
yard,  and,  supporting  the  bark  against  the  current,  enabled  her 
to  stand  obliquely  across  the  river. 

'  Now,  praise  be  to  God ! '  said  Philipson,  who  was  aware 
that  the  bark  he  looked  upon  must  be  in  the  act  of  carrying 
his  son  beyond  the  reach  of  the  dangers  by  which  he  was  him- 
self surrounded. 

'  Amen  ! '  answered  the  priest,  echoing  the  pious  ejaculation 
of  the  traveller.  '  Great  reason  have  you  to  return  thanks  to 
Heaven.' 

'Of  that  I  am  convinced,'  replied  Philipson ;  'but  yet  from 
you  I  hope  to  learn  the  special  cause  of  danger  from  which  I 
iave  escaped  ? ' 

*  This  is  neither  time  nor  place  for  such  an  investigation,' 
answered  the  priest  of  St.  Paul's.  '  It  is  enough  to  say,  that 
yonder  fellow,  well  known  for  his  hypocrisy  and  his  crimes,  was 
present  when  the  young  Switzer,  Sigismund,  reclaimed  from 
the  executioner  the  treasure  of  which  you  were  robbed  by 
Hagenbach.  Thus  Bartholomew's  avarice  was  awakened.  He 
undertook  to  be  your  guide  to  Strasburg,  with  the  criminal 
intent  of  detaining  you  by  the  way  till  a  party  came  up,  against 
whose  numbers  resistance  would  have  been  in  vain.  But  his 
purpose  has  been  anticipated.  And  now,  ere  giving  vent  to 
other  worldly  thoughts,  whether  of  hope  or  fear,  to  the  chapel, 
sir,  and  join  in  orisons  to  Him  who  hath  been  your  aid,  and 
to  those  who  have  interceded  with  Him  in  your  behalf.' 

Philipson  entered  the  chapel  with  his  guide,  and  joined  in 
returning  thanks  to  Heaven,  and  the  tutelary  power  of  the 
spot,  for  the  escape  which  had  been  vouchsafed  to  him. 

When  this  duty  had  been  performed,  Philipson  intimated 
his  purpose  of  resuming  his  journey,  to  which  the  black  priest 
replied  that,  far  from  delaying  him  in  a  place  so  dangerous,  he 


S28  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

would  himself  accompany  him  for  some  part  of  the  journey, 
since  he  also  was  bound  to  the  presence  of  the  Duke  of 
Burgundy. 

*  You,  my  father  —  you ! '  said  the  merchant,  with  some 
astonishment. 

'  And  wherefore  surprised  ? '  answered  the  priest.  '  Is  it  so 
strange  that  one  of  my  order  should  visit  a  prince's  court? 
Believe  me,  there  are  but  too  many  of  them  to  be  found 
there.' 

'  I  do  not  speak  with  reference  to  your  order,'  answered 
Philipson,  '  but  in  regard  of  the  part  which  you  have  this  day 
acted,  in  abetting  the  execution  of  Archibald  de  Hagenbach. 
Know  you  so  little  of  the  fiery  Duke  of  Burgundy,  as  to 
imagine  you  can  dally  with  his  resentment  with  more  safety 
than  you  would  pull  the  mane  of  a  sleeping  lion  1 ' 

'  I  know  his  mood  well,'  said  the  priest ;  '  and  it  is  not  to 
excuse  but  to  defend  the  death  of  De  Hagenbach  that  I  go  to 
his  presence.  The  Duke  may  execute  his  serfs  and  bondsmen 
at  his  pleasure,  but  there  is  a  spell  upon  my  life  which  is 
proof  to  all  his  power.  But  let  me  retort  the  question.  You, 
sir  Englishman,  knowing  the  conditions  of  the  Duke  so  well  — 
you,  so  lately  the  guest  and  travelling  companion  of  the  most 
unwelcome  visitors  who  could  approach  him  —  you,  implicated, 
in  appearance  at  least,  in  the  uproar  at  La  Ferette  —  what 
chance  is  there  of  your  escaping  his  vengeance  ?  and  wherefore 
will  you  throw  yourself  wantonly  within  his  power  ? ' 

'  Worthy  father,'  said  the  merchant,  '  let  each  of  us,  without 
offence  to  the  other,  keep  his  own  secret.  I  have,  indeed,  no 
spell  to  secure  me  from  the  Duke's  resentment ;  I  have  limbs 
to  suffer  torture  and  imprisonment,  and  property  which  may 
be  seized  and  confiscated.  But  I  have  had  in  former  days 
many  dealings  with  the  Duke,  I  may  even  say  I  have  laid  him 
under  obligations,  and  hope  my  interest  with  him  may  in  con- 
sequence be  sufficient  not  only  to  save  me  from  the  conse- 
quences of  this  day's  procedure,  but  be  of  some  avail  to  my 
friend  the  Landamman.' 

'  But  if  you  are  in  reality  bound  to  the  court  of  Burgundy 
as  a  merchant,'  said  the  priest,  '  where  are  the  wares  in  which 
you  traffic  ?  Have  you  no  merchandise  save  that  which  you 
carry  on  your  person  ?  I  heard  of  a  sumpter-horse  with  bag- 
gage.    Has  yonder  villain  deprived  you  of  it  ? ' 

This  was  a  trying  question  to  Philipson,  who,  anxious  about 
the  separation  from  his  son,  had  given  no  direction  whether 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  229 

the  baggage  should  remain  with  himself  or  should  be  trans- 
ported to  the  other  side  of  the  Rhine.  He  was,  therefore,  taken 
at  advantage  by  the  priest's  inquiry,  to  which  he  answered  with 
some  incoherence  —  'I  believe  my  baggage  is  in  the  hamlet 
—  that  is,  unless  my  son  has  taken  it  across  the  Rhine  with 
him.' 

'  That  we  will  soon  learn,'  answered  the  priest. 

Here  a  novice  appeared  from  the  vestiary  of  the  chapel  at 
his  call,  and  received  commands  to  inquire  at  the  hamlet 
whether  Philipson's  bales,  with  the  horse  which  transported 
them,  had  been  left  there  or  ferried  over  along  with  his  son. 

The  novice,  being  absent  a  few  minutes,  presently  returned 
with  the  baggage-horse,  which,  with  its  burden,  Arthur,  from 
regard  to  his  father's  accommodation,  had  left  on  the  western 
side  of  the  river.  The  priest  looked  on  attentively,  while  the 
elder  Philipson,  mounting  his  own  horse,  and  taking  the  rein 
of  the  other  in  his  hand,  bade  the  black  priest  adieu  in  these 
words  — '  And  now,  father,  farewell !  I  must  pass  on  with  my 
bales,  since  there  is  little  wisdom  in  travelling  with  them  after 
nightfall,  else  would  I  gladly  suit  my  pace,  with  your  permis- 
sion, so  as  to  share  the  way  with  you.' 

*  If  it  is  your  obliging  purpose  to  do  so,  as,  indeed,  I  was 
about  to  propose,'  said  the  priest,  '  know  I  will  be  no  stay  to 
your  journey.  I  have  here  a  good  horse ;  and  Melchior,  who 
must  otherwise  have  gone  on  foot,  may  ride  upon  your  sumpter- 
horse.  I  the  rather  propose  this  course,  as  it  will  be  rash  for 
you  to  travel  by  night.  I  can  conduct  you  to  an  hostelry 
about  five  miles  off,  which  we  may  reach  with  sufiicient  day- 
light, and  where  you  will  be  lodged  safely  for  your  reckoning.' 

The  English  merchant  hesitated  a  moment.  He  had  no 
fancy  for  any  new  companion  on  the  road,  and  although  the 
countenance  of  the  priest  was  rather  handsome,  considering  his 
years,  yet  the  expression  was  such  as  by  no  means  invited  con- 
fidence. On  the  contrary,  there  was  something  mysterious  and 
gloomy  which  clouded  his  brow,  though  it  was  a  lofty  one,  and 
a  similar  expression  gleamed  in  his  cold  grey  eye,  and  inti- 
mated severity,  and  even  harshness,  of  disposition.  But,  not- 
withstanding this  repulsive  circumstance,  the  priest  had  lately 
rendered  Philipson  a  considerable  service,  by  detecting  the 
treachery  of  his  hypocritical  guide,  and  the  merchant  was  not 
a  man  to  be  startled  from  his  course  by  any  imaginary  pre- 
possessions against  the  looks  or  manners  of  any  one,  or  appre- 
hensions of  machinations  against  himself.     He  only  revolved  in 


230  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

his  mind  the  singularity  attending  his  destiny,  which,  while  it 
was  necessary  for  him  to  appear  before  the  Duke  of  Burgundy 
in  the  most  conciliatory  manner,  seemed  to  force  upon  him  the 
adoption  of  companions  who  must  needs  be  obnoxious  to  that 
prince ;  and  such,  he  was  too  well  aware,  must  be  the  case  with 
the  priest  of  St.  Paul's.  Having  reflected  for  an  instant,  he 
courteously  accepted  the  offer  of  the  priest  to  guide  him  to 
some  place  of  rest  and  entertainment,  which  must  be  absolutely 
necessary  for  his  horse  before  he  reached  Strasburg,  even  if  he 
himself  could  have  dispensed  with  it. 

The  party  being  thus  arranged,  the  novice  brought  forth 
the  priest's  steed,  which  he  mounted  with  grace  and  agility, 
and  the  neophyte,  being  probably  the  same  whom  Arthur  had 
represented  during  his  escape  from  La  Ferette,  took  charge,  at 
his  master's  command,  of  the  baggage-horse  of  the  Englishman ; 
and  crossing  himself,  with  a  humble  inclination  of  his  head,  as 
the  priest  passed  him,  he  fell  into  the  rear,  and  seemed  to  pass 
the  time,  like  the  false  brother  Bartholomew,  in  telling  his 
beads,  with  an  earnestness  which  had  perhaps  more  of  aff'ected 
than  of  real  piety.  The  black  priest  of  St.  Paul's,  to  j  udge  by  the 
glance  which  he  cast  upon  his  novice,  seemed  to  disdain  the 
formality  of  the  young  man's  devotion.  He  rode  upon  a  strong 
black  horse,  more  like  a  warrior's  charger  than  the  ambling 
palfrey  of  a  priest,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  managed  him 
was  entirely  devoid  of  awkwardness  and  timidity.  His  pride, 
whatever  was  its  character,  was  not  certainly  of  a  kind  alto- 
gether professional,  but  had  its  origin  in  other  swelling  thoughts 
which  arose  in  his  mind,  to  mingle  with  and  enhance  the  self- 
consequence  of  a  powerful  ecclesiastic. 

As  Philipson  looked  on  his  companion  from  time  to  time, 
his  scrutinising  glance  was  returned  by  a  haughty  smile,  which 
seemed  to  say,  '  You  may  gaze  on  my  form  and  features,  but 
you  cannot  penetrate  my  mystery.' 

The  looks  of  Philipson,  which  were  never  known  to  sink 
before  mortal  man,  seemed  to  retort,  with  equal  haughtiness, 
'  Nor  shall  you,  proud  priest,  know  that  you  are  now  in  com- 
pany with  one  whose  secret  is  far  more  important  than  thine 
own  can  be.' 

At  length  the  priest  made  some  advance  towards  conver- 
sation, by  allusion  to  the  footing  upon  which,  by  a  mutual 
understanding,  they  seemed  to  have  placed  their  intercourse. 

'We  travel  then,'  he  said,  'like  two  powerful  enchanters, 
each  conscious  of  his  own  high  and  secret  purpose,  each  in  his 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  231 

own  chariot  of  clouds,  and  neither  imparting  to  his  companion 
the  direction  or  purpose  of  his  journey.' 

'Excuse  me,  father,'  answered  Philipson;  *I  have  neither 
asked  your  purpose  nor  concealed  my  own,  so  far  as  it  concerns 
you.  I  repeat,  I  am  bound  to  the  presence  of  the  Duke  of 
Burgundy,  and  my  object,  like  that  of  any  other  merchant,  is 
to  dispose  of  my  wares  to  advantage.' 

'Doubtless,  it  would  seem  so,'  said  the  black  priest,  'from 
the  extreme  attention  to  your  merchandise  which  you  showed 
not  above  half  an  hour  since,  when  you  knew  not  whether  your 
bales  had  crossed  the  river  with  your  son  or  were  remaining 
in  your  own  charge.  Are  English  merchants  usually  so  in- 
different to  the  sources  of  their  traffic  1 ' 

'When  their  lives  are  in  danger,'  said  Philipson,  'they  are 
sometimes  negligent  of  their  fortune.' 

'  It  is  well,'  replied  the  priest,  and  again  resumed  his  solitary 
musings,  until  another  half-hour's  travelling  brought  them  to 
a  dorff,  or  village,  which  the  black  priest  informed  Philipson 
was  that  where  he  proposed  to  stop  for  the  night. 

'The  novice,'  he  said,  'will  show  you  the  inn,  which  is  of 
good  reputation,  and  where  you  may  lodge  with  safety.  For  me, 
I  have  to  visit  a  penitent  in  this  village,  who  desires  my  ghostly 
offices ;  perhaps  I  may  see  you  again  this  evening,  perhaps  not 
till  the  next  morning  ;  at  any  rate,  adieu  for  the  present.' 

So  saying,  the  priest  stopped  his  horse,  while  the  novice, 
coming  close  up  to  Philipson's  side,  conducted  him  onward 
through  the  narrow  street  of  the  village,  whilst  the  windows 
exhibited  here  and  there  a  twinkling  gleam,  announcing  that 
the  hour  of  darkness  was  arrived.  Finally,  he  led  the  English- 
man through  an  archway  into  a  sort  of  courtyard,  where  there 
stood  a  car  or  two  of  a  particular  shape,  used  occasionally  by 
women  when  they  travel,  and  some  other  vehicles  of  the  same 
kind.  Here  the  young  man  threw  himself  from  the  sumpter- 
horse,  and,  placing  the  rein  in  Philipson's  hand,  disappeared 
in  the  increasing  darkness,  after  pointing  to  a  large  but  dilapi- 
dated building,  along  the  froiit  of  which  not  a  spark  of  light 
was  to  be  discovered  from  any  of  the  narrow  and  numerous 
windows  which  were  dimly  visible  in  the  twilight. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

1st  Carrier.  What,  ostler !  —  a  plague  on  thee,  hast  never  an  eye  in  thy 
head  ?  Canst  thou  not  hear  ?  An  't  were  not  as  good  a  deed  as  drink  to 
break  the  pate  of  thee,  I  am  a  very  villain.  Come,  and  be  hanged.  Hast 
thou  no  faith  in  thee  ? 

Gadshill.  I  pray  thee,  lend  me  thy  lantern,  to  see  my  gelding  in  the 
stable. 

2d  Carrier.  Nay,  soft,  I  pray  you  —  I  know  a  trick  worth  two  of  that. 

Gadshill.  I  prithee  lend  me  thine. 

3d  Carrier.  Ay,  when  ?  Canst  tell  ?  Lend  thee  my  lantern,  quotha  ? 
Marry,  I  '11  see  thee  hanged  first. 

Henry  IV. 

THE  social  spirit  peculiar  to  the  French  nation  had  already 
introduced  into  the  inns  of  that  country  the  gay  and 
cheerful  character  of  welcome  upon  which  Erasmus,  at 
a  later  period,  dwells  with  strong  emphasis,  as  a  contrast  to  the 
saturnine  and  sullen  reception  which  strangers  were  apt  to  meet 
with  at  a  German  caravansera.  Philipson  was,  therefore,  in  ex- 
pectation of  being  received  by  the  busy,  civil,  and  talkative  host 
—  by  the  hostess  and  her  daughter,  all  softness,  coquetry,  and 
glee  —  the  smiling  and  supple  waiter  —  the  officious  and  dim- 
pled chambermaid.  The  better  inns  in  France  boast  also  sepa- 
rate rooms,  where  strangers  could  change  or  put  in  order  their 
dress,  where  they  might  sleep  without  company  in  their  bed- 
room, and  where  they  could  deposit  their  baggage  in  privacy 
and  safety.  But  all  these  luxuries  were  as  yet  unknown  in 
Germany ;  and  in  Alsace,  where  the  scene  now  lies,  as  well  as 
in  the  other  dependencies  of  the  Empire,  they  regarded  as 
effeminacy  everything  beyond  such  provisions  as  were  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  supply  of  the  wants  of  travellers ;  and  even 
these  were  coarse  and  indifferent,  and,  excepting  in  the  article 
of  wine,  sparingly  ministered. 

The  Englishman,  finding  that  no  one  appeared  at  the  gate, 
began  to  make  his  presence  known  by  calling  aloud,  and  finally 
by  alighting,  and  smiting  with  all  his  might  on  the  doors  of 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  233 

the  hostelry  for  a  long  time,  without  attracting  the  least  at- 
tention. At  length  the  head  of  a  grizzled  servitor  was  thrust 
out  at  a  small  window,  who,  in  a  voice  which  sounded  like 
that  of  one  displeased  at  the  interruption,  rather  than  hopeful 
of  advantage  from  the  arrival  of  a  guest,  demanded  what  he 
wanted. 

'  Is  this  an  inn  ? '  replied  Philipson. 

'  Yes,'  bluntly  replied  the  domestic,  and  was  about  to  with- 
draw from  the  window,  when  the  traveller  added  — 

'  And  if  it  be,  can  I  have  lodgings  ? ' 

*  You  may  come  in,'  was  the  short  and  dry  answer. 
'Send  some  one  to  take  the  horses,'  replied  Philipson. 

'  No  one  is  at  leisure,'  replied  this  most  repulsive  of  waiters ; 
'you  must  litter  down  your  horses  yourself,  in  the  way  that 
likes  you  best.' 

*  Where  is  the  stable  ? '  said  the  merchant,  whose  prudence 
and  temper  were  scarce  proof  against  this  Dutch  phlegm. 

The  fellow,  who  seemed  as  sparing  of  his  words  as  if,  like 
the  princess  in  the  fairy  tale,  he  had  dropped  ducats  with  each 
of  them,  only  pointed  to  a  door  in  an  outer  building,  more 
resembling  that  of  a  cellar  than  of  a  stable,  and,  as  if  weary  of 
the  conference,  drew  in  his  head,  and  shut  the  window  sharply 
against  the  guest,  as  he  would  against  an  importunate  beggar. 

Cursing  the  spirit  of  independence  which  left  a  traveller  to 
his  own  resources  and  exertions,  Philipson,  making  a  virtue  of 
necessity,  led  the  two  nags  towards  the  door  pointed  out  as 
that  of  the  stable,  and  was  rejoiced  at  heart  to  see  light  glim- 
mering through  its  chinks.  He  entered  with  his  charge  into 
a  place  very  like  the  dungeon  vault  of  an  ancient  castle,  rudely 
fitted  up  with  some  racks  and  mangers.  It  was  of  considerable 
extent  in  point  of  length,  and  at  the  lower  end  two  or  three 
persons  were  engaged  in  tying  up  their  horses,  dressing  them, 
and  dispensing  them  their  provender. 

This  last  article  was  delivered  by  the  ostler,  a  very  old  lame 
man,  who  neither  put  his  hand  to  wisp  or  curry-comb,  but  sat 
weighing  forth  hay  by  the  pound,  and  counting  out  com,  as  it 
seemed,  by  the  grain,  so  anxiously  did  he  bend  over  his  task, 
by  the  aid  of  a  blinking  light  inclosed  within  a  horn  lantern. 
He  did  not  even  turn  his  head  at  the  noise  which  the  English- 
man made  on  entering  the  place  with  two  additional  horses, 
far  less  did  he  seem  disposed  to  give  himself  the  least  trouble, 
or  the  stranger  the  smallest  assistance. 

In  respect  of  cleanliness,  the  stable  of  Augeas  bore  no  small 


234  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

resemblance  to  that  of  this  Alsatian  dorff,  and  it  would  have 
been  an  exploit  worthy  of  Hercules  to  have  restored  it  to  such 
a  state  of  cleanliness  as  would  have  made  it  barely  decent  in 
the  eyes,  and  tolerable  to  the  nostrils,  of  the  punctilious  Eng- 
lishman. But  this  was  a  matter  which  disgusted  Philipson 
himself  much  more  than  those  of  his  party  which  were  princi- 
pally concerned.  They,  videlicet  the  two  horses,  seeming  per- 
fectly to  understand  that  the  rule  of  the  place  was  '  first  come, 
first  served,'  hastened  to  occupy  the  empty  stalls  which  hap- 
pened to  be  nearest  to  them.  In  this  one  of  them  at  least  was 
disappointed,  being  received  by  a  groom  with  a  blow  across  the 
face  with  a  switch. 

'Take  that,'  said  the  fellow,  *for  forcing  thyself  into  the 
place  taken  up  for  the  horses  of  the  Baron  of  Randelsheim.' 

Never  in  the  course  of  his  life  had  the  English  merchant 
more  pain  to  retain  possession  of  his  temper  than  at  that 
moment.  Reflecting,  however,  on  the  discredit  of  quarrelling 
with  such  a  man  in  such  a  cause,  he  contented  himself  with 
placing  the  animal,  thus  repulsed  from  the  stall  he  had  chosen, 
into  one  next  to  that  of  his  companion,  to  which  no  one  seemed 
to  lay  claim. 

The  merchant  then  proceeded,  notwithstanding  the  fatigue 
of  the  day,  to  pay  all  that  attention  to  the  mute  companions 
of  his  journey  which  they  deserve  from  every  traveller  who 
has  any  share  of  prudence,  to  say  nothing  of  humanity.  The 
unusual  degree  of  trouble  which  Philipson  took  to  arrange  his 
horses,  although  his  dress,  and  much  more  his  demeanour, 
seemed  to  place  him  above  this  species  of  servile  labour, 
appeared  to  make  an  impression  even  upon  the  iron  insensi- 
bility of  the  old  ostler  himself  He  showed  some  alacrity  in 
furnishing  the  traveller,  who  knew  the  business  of  a  groom  so 
well,  with  corn,  straw,  and  hay,  though  in  small  quantity,  and 
at  exorbitant  rates,  which  were  instantly  to  be  paid ;  nay,  he 
even  went  as  far  as  the  door  of  the  stable,  that  he  might  point 
across  the  court  to  the  well,  from  which  Philipson  was  obliged 
to  fetch  water  with  his  own  hands.  The  duties  of  the  stable 
being  finished,  the  merchant  concluded  that  he  had  gained  such 
an  interest  with  the  grim  master  of  the  horse  as  to  learn  of 
him  whether  he  might  leave  his  bales  safely  in  the  stable. 

'You  may  leave  them  if  you  will,'  said  the  ostler;  'but 
touching  their  safety  you  will  do  much  more  wisely  if  you  take 
them  with  you,  and  give  no  temptation  to  any  one  by  suffering 
them  to  pass  firom  under  your  own  eyes.' 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  ^35 

So  saying,  the  man  of  oats  closed  his  oracular  jaws,  nor  could 
he  be  prevailed  upon  to  unlock  them  again  by  any  inquiry 
which  his  customer  could  devise. 

In  the  course  of  this  cold  and  comfortless  reception,  Philip- 
son  recollected  the  necessity  of  supporting  the  character  of  a 
prudent  and  wary  trader,  which  he  had  forgotten  once  before 
in  the  course  of  the  day ;  and,  imitating  what  he  saw  the 
others  do,  who  had  been,  like  himself  engaged  in  taking  charge 
of  their  horses,  he  took  up  his  baggage  and  removed  himself 
and  his  property  to  the  inn.  Here  he  was  suffered  to  enter, 
rather  than  admitted,  into  the  general  or  public  stuhe^  or  room 
of  entertainment,  which,  like  the  ark  of  the  patriarch,  received 
all  ranks  without  distinction,  whether  clean  or  unclean. 

The  stuhe  of  a  German  inn  derived  its  name  from  the  great 
hypocaust,  or  stove,  which  is  always  strongly  heated  to  secure 
the  warmth  of  the  apartment  in  which  it  is  placed.  There 
travellers  of  every  age  and  description  assembled ;  there  their 
upper  garments  were  indiscriminately  hung  up  around  the 
stove  to  dry  or  to  air;  and  the  guests  themselves  were  seen 
employed  in  various  acts  of  ablution  or  personal  arrangement, 
which  are  generally,  in  modern  times,  referred  to  the  privacy 
of  the  dressing-room. 

The  more  refined  feelings  of  the  Englishman  were  disgusted 
with  this  scene,  and  he  was  reluctant  to  mingle  in  it.  For  this 
reason  he  inquired  for  the  private  retreat  of  the  landlord  him- 
self, trusting  that,  by  some  of  the  arguments  powerful  among 
his  tribe,  he  might  obtain  separate  quarters  from  the  crowd, 
and  a  morsel  of  food  to  be  eaten  in  private.  A  grey-haired 
Ganymede,  to  whom  he  put  the  question  where  the  landlord 
was,  indicated  a  recess  behind  the  huge  stove,  where,  veiling 
his  glory  in  a  very  dark  and  extremely  hot  corner,  it  pleased 
the  great  man  to  obscure  himself  from  vulgar  gaze.  There 
was  something  remarkable  about  this  person.  Short,  stout, 
bandy-legged,  and  consequential,  he  was  in  these  respects  like 
many  brethren  of  the  profession  in  all  countries.  But  the 
countenance  of  the  man,  and  still  more  his  manners,  differed 
more  from  the  merry  host  of  France  or  England  than  even 
the  experienced  Philipson  was  prepared  to  expect.  He  knew 
German  customs  too  well  to  expect  the  suppliant  and  service- 
able qualities  of  the  master  of  a  French  inn,  or  even  the  more 
blunt  and  frank  manners  of  an  English  landlord.  But  such 
German  innkeepers  as  he  had  yet  seen,  though  indeed  arbitrary 
and  peremptory  in  their  country  fashions,  yet,  being  humoured 


^36  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

in  these,  they,  like  t3rrants  in  their  hours  of  relaxation,  dealt 
kindly  with  the  guests  over  whom  their  sway  extended,  and 
mitigated,  by  jest  and  jollity,  the  harshness  of  their  absolute 
power.  But  this  man'?  brow  was  like  a  tragic  volume,  in 
which  you  were  as  unlikely  to  find  anything  of  jest  or  amuse- 
ment as  in  a  hermit's  breviary.  His  answers  were  short,  sudden, 
and  repulsive,  and  the  air  and  manner  with  which  they  were 
delivered  was  as  surly  as  their  tenor,  which  will  appear  from 
the  following  dialogue  betwixt  him  and  his  guest :  — 

'Good  host,'  said  Philipson,  in  the  mildest  tone  he  could 
assume,  *  I  am  fatigued,  and  far  from  well  —  may  I  request  to 
have  a  separate  apartment,  a  cup  of  wine,  and  a  morsel  of  food 
in  my  private  chamber  ? ' 

*  You  may,'  answered  the  landlord,  but  with  a  look  strangely 
at  variance  with  the  apparent  acquiescence  which  his  words 
naturally  implied. 

'  Let  me  have  such  accommodation,  then,  with  your  earliest 
convenience.' 

'  Soft ! '  replied  the  innkeeper.  '  I  have  said  that  you  may 
request  these  things,  but  not  that  I  would  grant  them.  If 
you  would  insist  on  being  served  differently  from  others,  it 
must  be  at  another  inn  than  mine.' 

'  Well,  then,'  said  the  traveller,  '  I  will  shift  without  supper 
for  a  night  —  nay,  more,  I  will  be  content  to  pay  for  a  supper 
which  I  do  not  eat  —  if  you  will  cause  me  to  be  accommodated 
with  a  private  apartment  ? ' 

'  Signior  traveller,'  said  the  innkeeper,  *  every  one  here  must 
be  accommodated  as  well  as  you,  since  all  pay  alike.  Whoso 
comes  to  this  house  of  entertainment  must  eat  as  others  eat, 
drink  as  others  drink,  sit  at  table  with  the  rest  of  my  guests, 
and  go  to  bed  when  the  company  have  done  drinking.' 

'All  this,'  said  Philipson,  humbling  himself  where  anger 
would  have  been  ridiculous,  '  is  highly  reasonable ;  and  I  do 
not  oppose  myself  to  your  laws  or  customs.  But,'  added  he, 
taking  his  purse  from  his  girdle,  *  sickness  craves  some  privi- 
lege ;  and  when  the  patient  is  willing  to  pay  for  it,  methinks 
the  rigour  of  your  laws  may  admit  of  some  mitigation  ? ' 

'  I  keep  an  inn,  signior,  and  not  an  hospital.  If  you  remain 
here,  you  shall  be  served  with  the  same  attention  as  others ; 
if  you  are  not  willing  to  do  as  others  do,  leave  my  house  and 
seek  another  inn.' 

On  receiving  this  decisive  rebuff,  Philipson  gave  up  the  con- 
test, and  retired  from  the  sanctum  sanctorum  of  his  ungracious 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  237 

host,  to  await  the  arrival  of  supper,  penned  up  like  a  bullock 
in  a  pound,  amongst  the  crowded  inhabitants  of  the  stuhe. 
Some  of  these,  exhausted  by  fatigue,  snored  away  the  interval 
between  their  own  arrival  and  that  of  the  expected  repast ; 
others  conversed  together  on  the  news  of  the  country;  and 
others  again  played  at  dice,  or  such  games  as  might  serve  to 
consume  the  time.  The  company  were  of  various  ranks,  from 
those  who  were  apparently  wealthy  and  well-appointed  to 
some  whose  garments  and  manners  indicated  that  they  were 
but  just  beyond  the  grasp  of  poverty. 

A  begging  friar,  a  man  apparently  of  a  gay  and  pleasant 
temper,  approached  Philipson,  and  engaged  him  in  conversa- 
tion. The  Englishman  was  well  enough  acquainted  with  the 
world  to  be  aware  that  whatever  of  his  character  and  purpose 
it  was  desirable  to  conceal  would  be  best  hidden  under  a 
sociable  and  open  demeanour.  He,  therefore,  received  the 
friar's  approaches  graciously,  and  conversed  with  him  upon  the 
state  of  Lorraine,  and  the  interest  which  the  Duke  of  Bur- 
gundy's attempt  to  seize  that  fief  into  his  own  hands  was  likely 
to  create  both  in  France  and  Germany.  On  these  subjects, 
satisfied  with  hearing  his  fellow-traveller's  sentiments,  Philip- 
son  expressed  no  opinion  of  his  own,  but,  after  receiving  such 
intelligence  as  the  friar  chose  to  communicate,  preferred  rather 
to  talk  upon  the  geography  of  the  country,  the  facilities 
afforded  to  commerce,  and  the  rules  which  obstructed  or 
favoured  trade. 

While  he  was  thus  engaged  in  the  conversation  which 
seemed  most  to  belong  to  his  profession,  the  landlord  suddenly 
entered  the  room,  and,  mounting  on  the  head  of  an  old  barrel, 
glanced  his  eye  slowly  and  steadily  round  the  crowded  apart- 
ment, and  when  he  had  completed  his  survey,  pronounced  in  a 
decisive  tone  the  double  command  —  '  Shut  the  gates.  Spread 
the  table.' 

'The  Baron  St.  Antonio  be  praised,'  said  the  friar,  'our 
landlord  has  given  up  hope  of  any  more  guests  to-night,  until 
which  blessed  time  we  might  have  starved  for  want  of  food 
before  he  had  relieved  us.  Ay,  here  comes  the  cloth  ;  the  old 
gates  of  the  courtyard  are  now  bolted  fast  enough,  and  when 
Jan  Mengs  has  once  said,  "  Shut  the  gates,"  the  stranger  may 
knock  on  the  outside  as  he  will,  but  we  may  rest  assured  that 
it  shall  not  be  opened  to  him.' 

'Meinherr  Mengs  maintains  strict  discipline  in  his  house,' 
said  the  Englishman, 


238  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  As  absolute  as  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,'  answered  the  friar. 
*  After  ten  o'clock,  no  admittance:  the  "seek  another  inn," 
which  is  before  that  a  conditional  hint,  becomes,  after  the 
clock  has  struck  and  the  watchmen  have  begun  their  rounds, 
an  absolute  order  of  exclusion.  He  that  is  without  remains 
without,  and  he  that  is  within  must,  in  like  manner,  continue 
there  until  the  gates  open  at  break  of  day.  Till  then  the 
house  is  almost  like  a  beleaguered  citadel,  John  Mengs  its 
seneschal ' 

'And  we  its  captives,  good  father,'  said  Philipson.  'Well, 
content  am  I ;  a  wise  traveller  must  submit  to  the  control  of 
the  leaders  of  the  people  when  he  travels,  and  I  hope  a  goodly 
fat  potentate  like  John  Mengs  will  be  as  clement  as  his  station 
and  dignity  admit  of 

While  they  were  talking  in  this  manner,  the  aged  waiter, 
with  many  a  weary  sigh  and  many  a  groan,  had  drawn  out 
certain  boards  by  which  a  table  that  stood  in  the  midst  of  the 
stuhe  had  the  capacity  of  being  extended,  so  as  to  contain  the 
company  present,  and  covered  it  with  a  cloth,  which  was 
neither  distinguished  by  extreme  cleanliness  nor  fineness  of 
texture.  On  this  table,  when  it  had  been  accommodated  to 
receive  the  necessary  number  of  guests,  a  wooden  trencher  and 
spoon,  together  with  a  glass  drinking-cup,  were  placed  before 
each,  he  being  expected  to  serve  himself  with  his  own  knife 
for  the  other  purposes  of  the  table.  As  for  forks,  they  were 
unknown  until  a  much  later  period,  all  the  Europeans  of  that 
day  making  the  same  use  of  the  fingers  to  select  their  morsels 
and  transport  them  to  the  mouth  which  the  Asiatics  now 
practise. 

The  board  was  no  sooner  arranged  than  the  hungry  guests 
hastened  to  occupy  their  seats  around  it;  for  which  purpose 
the  sleepers  were  awakened,  the  dicers  resigned  their  game,  and 
the  idlers  and  politicians  broke  off"  their  sage  debates,  in  order 
to  secure  their  station  at  the  supper-table,  and  be  ready  to 
perform  their  part  in  the  interesting  solemnity  which  seemed 
about  to  take  place.  But  there  is  much  between  the  cup  and 
the  lip,  and  not  less  sometimes  between  the  covering  of  a  table 
and  the  placing  food  upon  it.  The  guests  sat  in  order,  each 
with  his  knife  drawn,  already  menacing  the  victuals  which 
were  still  subject  to  the  operations  of  the  cook.  They  had 
waited  with  various  degrees  of  patience  for  full  half  an  hour, 
when  at  length  the  old  attendant  before  mentioned  entered 
with  a  pitcher  of  thin  Moselle  wine,  so  light  and  so  sharp- 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  239 

tasted,  thafc  Philipson  put  down  bis  cup  with  every  tooth  in 
his  head  set  on  edge  by  the  slender  portion  which  he  had 
swallowed.  The  landlord,  John  Mengs,  who  had  assumed  a 
seat  somewhat  elevated  at  the  head  of  the  table,  did  not  omit 
to  observe  this  mark  of  insubordination,  and  to  animadvert 
upon  it. 

'  The  wine  likes  you  not,  I  think,  my  master  1 '  said  he  to 
the  English  merchant. 

'For  wine,  no,'  answered  Philipson;  'but  could  I  see  any- 
thing requiring  such  sauce,  I  have  seldom  seen  better  vinegar,' 

This  jest,  though  uttered  in  the  most  calm  and  composed 
manner,  seemed  to  drive  the  innkeeper  to  fury. 

'Who  are  you,'  he  exclaimed,  'for  a  foreign  pedlar,  that 
ventures  to  quarrel  with  my  wine,  which  has  been  approved  of 
by  so  many  princes,  dukes,  reigning  dukes,  graves,  rhinegraves, 
counts,  barons,  and  knights  of  the  Empire,  whose  shoes  you 
are  altogether  unworthy  even  to  clean  1  Was  it  not  of  this 
wine  that  the  Count  Palatine  of  Nimmersatt  drank  six  quarts 
before  he  ever  rose  from  the  blessed  chair  in  which  I  now  sit  1 ' 

'I  doubt  it  not,  mine  host,'  said  Philipson;  'nor  should  I 
think  of  scandalising  the  sobriety  of  your  honourable  guest, 
even  if  he  had  drunken  twice  the  quantity.' 

'  Silence,  thou  malicious  railer ! '  said  the  host ;  '  and  let 
instant  apology  be  made  to  me  and  the  wine  which  you  have 
calumniated,  or  I  will  instantly  command  the  supper  to  be 
postponed  till  midnight.' 

Here  there  was  a  general  alarm  among  the  guests,  all  abjur- 
ing any  part  in  the  censures  of  Philipson,  and  most  of  them 
proposing  that  John  Mengs  should  avenge  himself  on  the  actual 
culprit  by  turning  him  instantly  out  of  doors,  rather  than  in- 
volve so  many  innocent  and  famished  persons  in  the  conse- 
quences of  his  guilt.  The  wine  they  pronounced  excellent; 
some  two  or  three  even  drank  their  glass  out  to  make  their 
words  good ;  and  they  all  offered,  if  not  with  lives  and  fortunes, 
at  least  with  hands  and  feet,  to  support  the  ban  of  the  house 
against  the  contumacious  Englishman.  While  petition  and 
remonstrance  were  assailing  John  Mengs  on  every  side,  the 
friar,  like  a  wise  counsellor  and  a  trusty  friend,  endeavoured 
to  end  the  feud  by  advising  Philipson  to  submit  to  the  host's 
sovereignty. 

'Humble  thyself,  my  son,'  he  said  :  'bend  the  stubbornness 
of  thy  heart  before  the  great  lord  of  the  spiggot  and  butt.  I 
speak  for  the  sake  of  others  as  well  as  my  own ;  for  Heaven 


240  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

alone  knows  how  much  longer  they  or  I  can  endure  this  ex- 
tenuating fast ! ' 

'Worthy  guests,'  said  Philipson,  *I  am  grieved  to  have 
offended  our  respected  host,  and  am  so  far  from  objecting  to 
the  wine,  that  I  will  pay  for  a  double  flagon  of  it,  to  be  served 
all  round  to  this  honourable  company  —  so,  only,  they  do  not 
ask  me  to  share  of  it.' 

These  last  words  were  spoken  aside;  but  the  Englishman 
could  not  fail  to  perceive,  from  the  wry  mouths  of  some  of  the 
party  who  were  possessed  of  a  nicer  palate,  that  they  were  as 
much  afraid  as  himself  of  a  repetition  of  the  acid  potation. 

The  friar  next  addressed  the  company  wdth  a  proposal  that 
the  foreign  merchant,  instead  of  being  amerced  in  a  measure 
of  the  liquor  which  he  had  scandalised,  should  be  mulcted  in 
an  equal  quantity  of  the  more  generous  wines  which  were 
usually  produced  after  the  repast  had  been  concluded.  In  this 
mine  host,  as  well  as  the  guests,  found  their  advantage ;  and, 
as  Philipson  made  no  objection,  the  proposal  was  unanimously 
adopted,  and  John  Mengs  gave,  from  his  seat  of  dignity,  the 
signal  for  supper  to  be  served. 

The  long-expected  meal  appeared,  and  there  was  twice  as 
much  time  employed  in  consuming  as  there  had  been  in  ex- 
pecting it.  The  articles  of  which  the  supper  consisted,  as  well 
as  the  mode  of  serving  them  up,  were  as  much  calculated  to 
try  the  patience  of  the  company  as  the  delay  which  had  pre- 
ceded its  appearance.  Messes  of  broth  and  vegetables  followed 
in  succession,  with  platters  of  meat  sodden  and  roasted,  of 
which  each  in  its  turn  took  a  formal  course  around  the  ample 
table,  and  was  specially  subjected  to  every  one  in  rotation. 
Black  puddings,  nung  beef,  dried  fish,  also  made  the  circuit, 
with  various  condiments,  called  botargo,  caviare,  and  similar 
names,  composed  of  the  roes  of  fish  mixed  with  spices,  and  the 
like  preparations,  calculated  to  awaken  thirst  and  encourage 
deep  drinking.  Flagons  of  mne  accompanied  these  stimulating 
dainties.  The  liquor  was  so  superior  in  flavour  and  strength 
to  the  ordinary  wine  which  had  awakened  so  much  controversy, 
that  it  might  be  objected  to  on  the  opposite  account,  being  so 
heady,  fiery,  and  strong  that,  in  spite  of  the  rebuffs  which  his 
criticism  had  already  procured,  Philipson  ventured  to  ask  for 
some  cold  water  to  allay  it. 

*  You  are  too  difficult  to  please,  sir  guest,*  replied  the  land- 
lord, again  bending  upon  the  Englishman  a  stem  and  offended 
brow ;  *  if  you  find  the  wine  too  strong  in  my  house,  the  secret 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  241 

to  allay  its  strength  is  to  drink  the  less.  It  is  indifferent  to 
us  whether  you  drink  or  not,  so  you  pay  the  reckoning  of  those 
good  fellows  who  do.'    And  he  laughed  a  gruff  laugh. 

Philipson  was  about  to  reply,  but  the  friar,  retaining  his 
character  of  mediator,  plucked  him  by  the  cloak,  and  entreated 
him  to  forbear.  '  You  do  not  understand  the  ways  of  the  place,' 
said  he  :  'it  is  not  here  as  in  the  hostelries  of  England  and 
France,  where  each  guest  calls  for  what  he  desires  for  his  own 
use,  and  where  he  pays  for  what  he  has  required,  and  for  no 
more.  Here  we  proceed  on  a  broad  principle  of  equaHty  and 
fraternity.  No  one  asks  for  anything  in  particular ;  but  such 
provisions  as  the  host  thinks  sufficient  are  set  down  before  all 
indiscriminately  ;  and  as  with  the  feast,  so  is  it  with  the  reckon- 
ing. All  pay  their  proportions  alike,  without  reference  to  the 
quantity  of  wine  which  one  may  have  swallowed  more  than 
another;  and  thus  the  sick  and  infirm,  nay,  the  female  and 
the  child,  pay  the  same  as  the  hungry  peasant  and  strolling 
lanzknecht.' 

'  It  seems  an  unequal  custom,'  said  Philipson ;  '  but  travellers 
are  not  to  judge.  So  that,  when  a  reckoning  is  caUed,  every 
one,  I  am  to  understand,  pays  alike  ? ' 

'  Such  is  the  rule,'  said  the  friar  —  *  excepting,  perhaps,  some 
poor  brother  of  our  own  order,  whom  Our  Lady  and  St.  Francis 
send  into  such  a  scene  as  this  that  good  Christians  may  bestow 
their  alms  upon  him,  and  so  make  a  step  on  their  road  to 
Heaven.' 

The  first  words  of  this  speech  were  spoken  in  the  open  and 
independent  tone  in  which  the  friar  had  begun  the  conversa- 
tion ;  the  last  sentence  died  away  into  the  professional  yrhine 
of  mendicity  proper  to  the  convent,  and  at  once  apprised  Philip- 
son at  what  price  he  was  to  pay  for  the  friar's  counsel  and 
mediation.  Having  thus  explained  the  custom  of  the  country, 
good  Father  Gratian  turned  to  illustrate  it  by  his  example,  and; 
having  no  objection  to  the  new  service  of  wine  on  account 
of  its  strength,  he  seemed  well  disposed  to  signalise  himself 
amongst  some  stout  topers,  who,  by  drinking  deeply ,  appeared 
determined  to  have  fuU  pennyworths  for  their  share  of  the 
reckoning.  The  good  wine  gradually  did  its  office,  and  even 
the  host  relaxed  his  suUen  and  grim  features,  and  smiled  to 
see  the  kindling  flame  of  hilarity  catch  from  one  to  another, 
and  at  length  embrace  almost  all  the  numerous  guests  at  the 
table  dJhote^  except  a  few  who  were  too  temperate  to  partake 
deeply  of  the  wine,  or  too  fastidious  to  enter  into  the  discus- 

VOL.  XXIII  — 16 


242  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  ^ 

sions  to  which  it  gave  rise.  On  these  the  host  cast,  from  time 
to  time,  a  sullen  and  displeased  eye. 

Philipson,  who  was  reserved  and  silent,  both  in  consequence 
of  his  abstinence  from  the  wine-pot  and  his  unwillingness  to 
mix  in  conversation  with  strangers,  was  looked  upon  by  the 
landlord  as  a  defaulter  in  both  particulars  ;  and  as  he  aroused 
his  own  sluggish  nature  witk  the  fiery  wine,  Mengs  began  to 
throw  out  obscure  hints  about  kill-joy,  mar-company,  spoil- 
sport, and  such-like  epithets,  which  were  plainly  directed 
against  the  Englishman.  Philipson  replied,  with  the  utmost 
equanimity,  that  he  was  perfectly  sensible  that  his  spirits  did 
not  at  this  moment  render  him  an  agreeable  member  of  a  merry 
company,  and  that,  with  the  leave  of  those  present,  he  would 
withdraw  to  his  sleeping-apartment,  and  wish  them  all  a  good 
evening,  and  continuance  to  their  mirth. 

But  this  very  reasonable  proposal,  as  it  might  have  else- 
where seemed,  contained  in  it  treason  against  the  laws  of 
German  compotation. 

'  Who  are  you,'  said  John  Mengs,  *  who  presume  to  leave  the 
table  before  the  reckoning  is  called  and  settled  ?  Sapperment 
der  Teufel  I  we  are  not  men  upon  whom  such  an  offence  is  to  be 
put  with  impunity.  You  may  exhibit  your  polite  pranks  in 
Ram's  Alley  if  you  will,  or  in  Eastcheap,  or  in  Smithfield  ;  but 
it  shall  not  be  in  John  Mengs's  Golden  Fleece,  nor  will  I  suffer 
one  guest  to  go  to  bed  to  blink  out  of  the  reckoning,  and  so 
cheat  me  and  all  the  rest  of  my  company.' 

Philipson  looked  round  to  gather  the  sentiments  of  the  com- 
pany, but  saw  no  encouragement  to  appeal  to  their  judgment. 
Indeed,  many  of  them  had  little  judgment  left  to  appeal  to, 
and  those  who  paid  any  attention  to  the  matter  at  all  were 
some  quiet  old  soakers,  who  were  already  beginning  to  think  of 
the  reckoning,  and  were  disposed  to  agree  with  the  host  in 
considering  the  English  merchant  as  a  flincher,  who  was  deter- 
mined to  evade  payment  of  what  might  be  drunk  after  he  left 
the  room ;  so  that  John  Mengs  received  the  applause  of  the 
whole  company  when  he  concluded  his  triumphant  denunciation 
against  Philipson. 

*  Yes,  sir,  you  may  withdraw  if  you  please ;  but,  Potz  Element  1 
it  shall  not  be  for  this  time  to  seek  for  another  inn,  but  to  the 
courtyard  shall  you  go,  and  no  further,  there  to  make  your 
bed  upon  the  stable  litter ;  and  good  enough  for  the  man  that 
will  needs  be  the  first  to  break  up  good  company.' 

*  It  is  well  said,  my  jovial  host,'  said  a  rich  trader  from 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  243 

Hatisbon ;  *  and  here  are  some  six  of  us,  more  or  less,  who  will 
stand  by  you  to  maintain  the  good  old  customs  of  Germany, 
and  the  —  umph  —  laudable  and  —  and  praiseworthy  rules  of 
the  Golden  Fleece.' 

*  Nay,  be  not  angry,  sir,'  said  Philipson  ;  *  yourself  and  your 
three  companions,  whom  the  good  wine  has  multiplied  into  six, 
shall  have  your  own  way  of  ordering  the  matter ;  and  since  you 
will  not  permit  me  to  go  to  bed,  I  trust  that  you  will  take  no 
offence  if  I  fall  asleep  in  my  chair.' 

*How  say  you?  what  think  you,  mine  host]'  said  the 
citizen  from  Ratisbon ;  'may  the  gentleman,  being  drunk,  as 
you  see  he  is,  since  he  cannot  tell  that  three  and  one  make  six 
—  I  say,  may  he,  being  drunk,  sleep  in  tte  elbow-chair  ? ' 

This  question  introduced  a  contradiction  on  the  part  of  the 
host,  who  contended  that  three  and  one  made  four,  not  six ; 
and  this  again  produced  a  retort  from  the  Ratisbon  trader. 
Other  clamours  rose  at  the  same  time,  and  were  at  length  with 
difficulty  silenced  by  the  stanzas  of  a  chorus  song  of  mirth  and 
good  fellowship,  which  the  friar,  now  become  somewhat  oblivious 
of  the  rule  of  St.  Francis,  thundered  forth  with  better  good- will 
than  he  ever  sung  a  canticle  of  King  David.  Under  cover  of 
this  tumult,  Philipson  drew  himself  a  little  aside,  and  though 
he  felt  it  impossible  to  sleep,  as  he  had  proposed,  was  yet 
enabled  to  escape  the  reproachful  glances  with  which  John 
Mengs  distinguished  all  those  who  did  not  call  for  wine  loudly, 
and  drink  it  lustily.  His  thoughts  roamed  far  from  the  stube 
of  the  Golden  Fleece,  and  upon  matter  very  different  from  that 
which  was  discussed  around  him,  when  his  attention  was  sud- 
denly recalled  by  a  loud  and  continued  knocking  on  the  door 
of  the  hostelry. 

*  What  have  we  here  1 '  said  John  Mengs,  his  nose  reddening 
with  very  indignation  — '  who  the  foul  fiend  presses  on  the 
Golden  Fleece  at  such  an  hour,  as  if  he  thundered  at  the  door 
of  a  bordel  1  To  the  turret  window  some  one  —  Geoffrey,  knave 
ostler,  or  thou,  old  Timothy,  tell  the  rash  man  there  is  no 
admittance  into  the  Golden  Fleece  save  at  timeous  hours.' 

The  men  went  as  they  were  directed,  and  might  be  heard 
in  the  stube  vying  with  each  other  in  the  positive  denial  which 
they  gave  to  the  ill-fated  guest,  who  was  pressing  for  admis- 
sion. They  returned,  however,  to  inform  their  master  that 
they  were  unable  to  overcome  the  obstinacy  of  the  stranger, 
who  refused  positively  to  depart  until  he  had  an  interview  with 
Mengs  himself. 


244  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

Wroth  was  the  master  of  the  Golden  Fleece  at  this  ill- 
omened  pertinacity,  and  his  indignation  extended,  like  a  fiery- 
exhalation,  from  his  nose,  all  over  the  adjacent  regions  of  his 
cheeks  and  brow.  He  started  from  his  chair,  grasped  in  his 
hand  a  stout  stick,  which  seemed  his  ordinary  sceptre  or  leading 
staff  of  command,  and  muttering  something  concerning  cudgels 
for  the  shoulders  of  fools,  and  pitchers  of  fair  or  foul  wa,ter  for 
the  drenching  of  their  ears,  he  marched  off  to  the  window 
which  looked  into  the  court,  and  left  his  guests  nodding,  wink- 
ing, and  whispering  to  each  other,  in  full  expectation  of  hearing 
the  active  demonstrations  of  his  wrath.  It  happened  otherwise, 
however;  for,  after  the  exchange  of  a  few  indistinct  words, 
they  were  astonished  when  they  heard  the  noise  of  the  unbolt- 
ing and  unbarring  of  the  gates  of  the  inn,  and  presently  after 
the  footsteps  of  men  upon  the  stairs ;  and  the  landlord  entering, 
with  an  appearance  of  clumsy  courtesy,  prayed  those  assembled 
to  make  room  for  an  honoured  guest,  who  came,  though  late, 
to  add  to  their  numbers.  A  tall,  dark  form  followed,  muffled 
in  a  travelling-cloak ;  on  laying  aside  which,  Philipson  at 
once  recognised  his  late  fellow-traveller,  the  black  priest  of 
St.  Paul's. 

There  was  in  the  circumstance  itself  nothing  at  all  surpris- 
ing, since  it  was  natural  that  a  landlord,  however  coarse  and 
insolent  to  ordinary  guests,  might  yet  show  deference  to  an 
ecclesiastic,  whether  from  his  rank  in  the  church  or  from  his 
reputation  for  sanctity.  But  what  did  appear  surprising  to 
Philipson  was  the  effect  produced  by  the  entrance  of  this 
unexpected  guest.  He  seated  himself,  without  hesitation,  at 
the  highest  place  of  the  board,  from  which  John  Mengs  had 
dethroned  the  aforesaid  trader  from  Ratisbon,  notwithstanding 
his  zeal  for  ancient  German  customs,  his  steady  adherence  and 
loyalty  to  the  Golden  Fleece,  and  his  propensity  to  brimming 
goblets.  The  priest  took  instant  and  unscrupulous  possession 
of  his  seat  of  honour,  after  some  negligent  reply  to  the  host's 
unwonted  courtesy ;  when  it  seemed  that  the  effect  of  his  long 
black  vestments,  in  place  of  the  slashed  and  flounced  coat  of 
his  predecessor,  as  well  as  of  the  cold  grey  eye  with  which  he 
slowly  reviewed  the  company,  in  some  degree  resembled  that 
of  the  fabulous  Gorgon,  and  if  it  did  not  literally  convert  those 
who  looked  upon  it  into  stone,  there  was  yet  something  petri- 
fying in  the  steady,  unmoved  glance  with  which  he  seemed  to 
survey  them,  looking  as  if  desirous  of  reading  their  very 
inmost  souls,  and  passing  from  one  to  another,  as  if  each 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  ^45 

upon  whom  he  looked  in  succession  was  unworthy  of  longer 
consideration. 

Philipson  felt,  in  his  turn,  that  momentary  examination,  in 
which,  however,  there  mingled  nothing  that  seemed  to  convey 
recognition.  All  the  courage  and  composure  of  the  English- 
man could  not  prevent  an  unpleasant  feeling  while  under  this 
mysterious  man's  eye,  so  that  he  felt  a  relief  when  it  passed 
from  him  and  rested  upon  another  of  the  company,  who  seemed 
in  turn  to  acknowledge  the  chilling  effects  of  that  freezing 
glance.  The  noise  of  intoxicated  mirth  and  drunken  disputa- 
tion, the  clamorous  argument,  and  the  still  more  boisterous 
laugh,  which  had  been  suspended  on  the  priest's  entering  the 
eating-apartment,  now,  after  one  or  two  vain  attempts  to 
resume  them,  died  away,  as  if  the  feast  had  been  changed  to  a 
funeral,  and  the  jovial  guests  had  been  at  once  converted  into 
the  lugubrious  mutes  who  attend  on  such  solemnities.  One 
little  rosy-faced  man,  who  afterwards  proved  to  be  a  tailor 
from  Augsburg,  ambitious,  perhaps,  of  showing  a  degree  of 
courage  not  usually  supposed  consistent  with  his  effeminate 
trade,  made  a  bold  effort;  and  yet  it  was  with  a  timid  and 
restrained  voice  that  he  called  on  the  jovial  friar  to  renew  his 
song.  But  whether  it  was  that  he  did  not  dare  to  venture  on 
an  uncanonical  pastime  in  presence  of  a  brother  in  orders,  or 
whether  he  had  some  other  reason  for  declining  the  invitation, 
the  merry  churchman  hung  his  head,  and  shook  it  with  such 
an  expressive  air  of  melancholy,  that  the  tailor  drew  back  as  if 
he  had  been  detected  in  cabbaging  from  a  cardinal's  robes,  or 
cribbing  the  lace  of  some  cope  or  altar  gown.  In  short,  the 
revel  was  hushed  into  deep  silence,  and  so  attentive  were  the 
company  to  what  should  arrive  next,  that  the  bells^of  the  vil- 
lage church,  striking  the  first  hour  after  midnight,  made  the 
guests  start  as  if  they  heard  them  rung  backwards  to  announce 
an  assault  or  conflagration.  The  black  priest,  who  had  taken 
some  slight  and  hasty  repast,  which  the  host  had  made  no  kind 
of  objection  to  supplying  him  with,  seemed  to  think  the  bells, 
which  announced  the  service  of  lauds,  being  the  first  after 
midnight,  a  proper  signal  for  breaking  up  the  party. 

*We  have  eaten,'  he  said,  'that  we  may  support  life  :  let  us 
pray,  that  we  may  be  fit  to  meet  death,  which  waits  upon  life  as 
surely  as  night  upon  day,  or  the  shadow  upon  the  sunbeam, 
though  we  know  not  when  or  from  whence  it  is  to  come 
upon  us.' 

The   company,   as  if  mechanically,  bent   their  uncovered 


^46  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

heads,  while  the  priest  said,  with  his  deep  and  solemn  voice, 
a  Latin  prayer,  expressing  thanks  to  God  for  protection 
throughout  the  day,  and  entreating  for  its  continuance  during 
the  witching  hours  which  were  to  pass  ere  the  day  again 
commenced.  The  hearers  bowed  their  heads  in  token  of 
acquiescence  in  the  holy  petition;  and,  when  they  raised 
them,  the  black  priest  of  St.  Paul  s  had  followed  the  host 
out  of  the  apartment,  probably  to  that  which  was  destined  for 
his  repose.  His  absence  was  no  sooner  perceived  than  signs 
and  nods,  and  even  whispers,  were  exchanged  between  the 
guests;  but  no  one  spoke  above  his  breath,  or  in  such  con- 
nected manner  as  that  Philipson  could  understand  anything 
distinctly  from  them.  He  himself  ventured  to  ask  the  friar, 
who  sat  near  him,  observing  at  the  same  time  the  undertone 
which  seemed  to  be  fashionable  for  the  moment,  whether  the 
worthy  ecclesiastic  who  had  left  them  was  not  the  priest  of  St. 
Paul's,  on  the  frontier  town  of  La  Ferette. 

'  And  if  you  know  it  is  he,'  said  the  friar,  with  a  countenance 
and  a  tone  from  which  all  signs  of  intoxication  were  suddenly 
banished,  *  why  do  you  ask  of  me  ? ' 

'Because,'  said  the  merchant,  'I  would  willingly  learn  the 
spell  which  so  suddenly  converted  so  many  merry  tipplers  into 
men  of  sober  manners,  and  a  jovial  company  into  a  convent  of 
Carthusian  friars  ? ' 

*  Friend,'  said  the  friar,  *thy  discourse  savoureth  mightily 
of  asking  after  what  thou  knowest  right  well.  But  I  am  no 
such  silly  duck  as  to  be  taken  by  a  decoy.  If  thou  knowest 
the  black  priest,  thou  canst  not  be  ignorant  of  the  terrors  which 
attend  his  presence,  and  that  it  were  safer  to  pass  a  broad  jest 
in  the  holy  house  of  Loretto  than  where  he  shows  himself 

So  saying,  and  as  if  desirous  of  avoiding  further  discourse, 
he  withdrew  to  a  distance  from  Philipson. 

At  the  same  moment  the  landlord  again  appeared,  and,  with 
more  of  the  usual  manners  of  a  publican  than  he  had  hitherto 
exhibited,  commanded  his  waiter,  Geoffrey,  to  hand  round  to 
the  company  a  sleeping-drink,  or  pillow-cup,  of  distilled  water, 
mingled  with  spices,  which  was  indeed  as  good  as  Philipson 
himself  had  ever  tasted.  John  Mengs,  in  the  meanwhile,  with 
somewhat  of  more  deference,  expressed  to  his  guests  a  hope 
that  his  entertainment  had  given  satisfaction ;  but  this  was  in 
so  careless  a  manner,  and  he  seemed  so  conscious  of  deserving 
the  affirmative  which  was  expressed  on  all  hands,  that  it  be- 
came obvious  there  was  very  little  humility  in  proposing  the 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  247 

question.  The  old  man,  Timothy,  was  in  the  meantime  muster- 
ing the  guests,  and  marking  with  chalk  on  the  bottom  of  a 
trencher  the  reckoning,  the  particulars  of  which  were  indicated 
by  certain  conventional  hierogl3rphics,  while  he  showed  on 
another  the  division  of  the  sum  total  among  the  company,  and 
proceeded  to  collect  an  equal  share  of  it  from  each.  When 
the  fatal  trencher,  in  which  each  man  paid  down  his  money, 
approached  the  jolly  friar,  his  countenance  seemed  to  be  some- 
what changed.  He  cast  a  piteous  look  towards  Philipson,  as 
the  person  from  whom  he  had  the  most  hope  of  relief;  and 
our  merchant,  though  displeased  with  the  manner  in  which  he 
had  held  back  from  his  confidence,  yet  not  unwilling  in  a  strange 
country  to  incur  a  little  expense  in  the  hope  of  making  a  useful 
acquaintance,  discharged  the  mendicant's  score  as  well  as  his 
own.  The  poor  friar  paid  his  thanks  in  many  a  blessing  in 
good  German  and  bad  Latin  ;  but  the  host  cut  them  short,  for, 
approaching  Philipson  with  a  candle  in  his  hand,  he  offered  his 
own  services  to  show  him  where  he  might  sleep,  and  even  had 
the  condescension  to  carry  his  mail,  or  portmanteau,  with  his 
own  landlordly  hands. 

'  You  take  too  much  trouble,  mine  host,'  said  the  merchant, 
somewhat  surprised  at  the  change  in  the  manner  of  John  Mengs, 
who  had  hitherto  contradicted  him  at  every  word. 

*I  cannot  take  too  much  pains  for  a  guest,'  was  the  reply, 
*  whom  my  venerable  friend  the  priest  of  St.  Paul's  hath  espe- 
cially recommended  to  my  charge.' 

He  then  opened  the  door  of  a  small  bedroom,  prepared  for 
the  occupation  of  a  guest,  and  said  to  Philipson  — '  Here  you 
may  rest  till  to-morrow  at  what  hour  you  will,  and  for  as  many 
days  more  as  you  incline.  The  key  will  secure  your  wares 
against  theft  or  pillage  of  any  kind.  I  do  not  this  for  every 
one ;  for,  if  my  guests  were  every  one  to  have  a  bed  to  himself, 
the  next  thing  they  would  demand  might  be  a  separate  table  ; 
and  then  there  would  be  an  end  of  the  good  old  German  customs, 
and  we  should  be  as  foppish  and  frivolous  as  our  neighbours.' 

He  placed  the  portmanteau  on  the  floor,  and  seemed  about 
to  leave  the  apartment,  when,  turning  about,  he  began  a  sort 
of  apology  for  the  rudeness  of  his.  former  behaviour. 

*  I  trust  there  is  no  misunderstanding  between  us,  my  worthy 
guest.  You  might  as  well  expect  to  see  one  of  our  bears  come 
aloft  and  do  tricks  like  a  jackanapes,  as  one  of  us  stubborn  old 
Germans  play  the  feats  of  a  French  or  an  Italian  host.  Yet  I 
pray  you  to  note  that,  if  our  behaviour  is  rude,  our  charges  are 


248  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

honest,  and  our  articles  what  they  profess  to  be.  "We  do  not 
expect  to  make  Moselle  pass  for  Rhenish  by  dint  of  a  bow  and 
a  grin,  nor  will  we  sauce  your  mess  with  poison,  like  the  wily 
Italian,  and  call  you  all  the  time  Illustrissimo  and  Magnifico.^ 

He  seemed  in  these  words  to  have  exhausted  his  rhetoric, 
for,  when  they  were  spoken,  he  turned  abruptly  and  left  the 
apartment. 

Philipson  was  thus  deprived  of  another  opportunity  to  in- 
quire who  or  what  this  ecclesiastic  could  be  that  had  exercised 
such  influence  on  all  who  approached  him.  He  felt,  indeed, 
no  desire  to  prolong  a  conference  with  John  Mengs,  though  he 
had  laid  aside  in  such  a  considerable  degree  his  rude  and  re- 
pulsive manners ;  yet  he  longed  to  know  who  this  man  could 
be  who  had  power  with  a  word  to  turn  aside  the  daggers  of 
Alsatian  banditti,  habituated  as  they  were,  like  most  borderers, 
to  robbery  and  pillage,  and  to  change  into  civility  the  proverbial 
rudeness  of  a  German  innkeeper.  Such  were  the  reflections  of 
PhiHpson,  as  he  defied  his  clothes  to  take  his  much-needed 
repose,  after  a  day  of  fatigue,  danger,  and  difiiculty,  on  the 
pallet  afforded  by  the  hospitality  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  in  the 


CHAPTER  XX 


Macbeth.    How  now,  ye  secret,  black,  and  midnight  hags  ! 
What  is 't  ye  do  ? 

Witches.   A  deed  without  a  name. 

Macbeth. 

WE  have  said  in  the  conclusion  of  the  last  chapter  that, 
after  a  day  of  unwonted  fatigue  and  extraordinary 
excitation,  the  merchant  Philipson  naturally  ex- 
pected to  forget  so  many  agitating  passages  in  that  deep  and 
profound  repose  which  is  at  once  the  consequence  and  the  cure 
of  extreme  exhaustion.  But  he  was  no  sooner  laid  on  his  lowly 
pallet  than  he  felt  that  the  bodily  machine,  over-laboured  by 
so  much  exercise,  was  little  disposed  to  the  charms  of  sleep. 
The  mind  had  been  too  much  excited,  the  body  was  far  too 
feverish,  to  suffer  him  to  partake  of  needful  rest.  His  anxiety 
about  the  safety  of  his  son,  his  conjectures  concerning  the  issue 
of  his  mission  to  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  and  a  thousand  other 
thoughts  which  recalled  past  events,  or  speculated  on  those 
which  were  to  come,  rushed  upon  his  mind  like  the  waves  of  a 
perturbed  sea,  and  prevented  all  tendency  to  repose.  He  had 
been  in  bed  about  an  hour,  and  sleep  had  not  yet  approached 
his  couch,  when  he  felt  that  the  pallet  on  which  he  lay  was  sink- 
ing below  him,  and  that  he  was  in  the  act  of  descending  along 
with  it  he  knew  not  whither.  The  sound  of  ropes  and  puUies 
was  also  indistinctly  heard,  though  every  caution  had  been 
taken  to  make  them  run  smooth ;  and  the  traveller,  by  feeling 
around  him,  became  sensible  that  he  and  the  bed  on  which  he 
lay  had  been  spread  upon  a  large  trap-door,  which  was  capable 
of  being  let  down  into  the  vaults  or  apartments  beneath. 

Philipson  felt  fear  in  circumstances  so  well  qualified  to  pro- 
duce it;  for  how  could  he  hope  a  safe  termination  to  an  ad- 
venture which  had  begun  so  strangely  1  But  his  apprehensions 
were  those  of  a  brave,  ready-witted  man,  who,  even  in  the 
extremity  of  danger  which  appeared  to  surround  him,  preserved 


250  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

his  presence  of  mind.  His  descent  seemed  to  be  cautiously- 
managed,  and  he  held  himself  in  readiness  to  start  to  his  feet 
and  defend  himself  as  soon  as  he  should  be  once  more  upon 
firm  ground.  Although  somewhat  advanced  in  years,  he  was 
a  man  of  great  personal  vigour  and  activity,  and  unless  taken 
at  advantage,  which  no  doubt  was  at  present  much  to  be  appre- 
hended, he  was  likely  to  make  a  formidable  defence.  His  plan 
of  resistance,  however,  had  been  anticipated.  He  no  sooner 
reached  the  bottom  of  the  vault,  down  to  which  he  was  lowered, 
than  two  men,  who  had  been  waiting  there  till  the  operation  was 
completed,  laid  hands  on  him  from  either  side,  and,  forcibly  pre- 
venting him  from  starting  up  as  he  intended,  cast  a  rope  over 
his  arms,  and  made  him  a  prisoner  as  effectually  as  when  he 
was  in  the  dungeons  of  La  Ferette.  He  was  obliged,  there- 
fore, to  remain  passive  and  unresisting,  and  await  the  termina- 
tion of  this  formidable  adventure.  Secured  as  he  was,  he  could 
only  turn  his  head  from  one  side  to  the  other  ;  and  it  was  with 
joy  that  he  at  length  saw  lights  twinkle,  but  they  appeared  at 
a  great  distance  from  him. 

From  the  irregular  manner  in  which  these  scattered  lights 
advanced,  sometimes  keeping  a  straight  line,  sometimes  mix- 
ing and  crossing  each  other,  it  might  be  inferred  that  the 
subterranean  vault  in  which  they  appeared  was  of  very  consid- 
erable extent.  Their  number  also  increased  ;  and  as  they  col- 
lected more  together,  Philipson  could  perceive  that  the  lights 
proceeded  from  many  torches,  borne  by  men  muffled  in  black 
cloaks,  like  mourners  at  a  funeral,  or  the  black  fi-iars  of  St. 
Francis's  order,  wearing  their  cowls  drawn  over  their  heads, 
so  as  to  conceal  their  features.  They  appeared  anxiously 
engaged  in  measuring  off  a  portion  of  the  apartment;  and, 
while  occupied  in  that  employment,  they  sung,  in  the  ancient 
German  language,  rhymes  more  rude  than  Philipson  could  well 
understand,  but  which  may  be  imitated  thus  :  — 

Measurers  of  good  and  evil, 

Bring  the  square,  the  line,  the  level  ; 

Rear  the  altar,  dig  the  trench  ; 

Blood  both  stone  and  ditch  shall  drencL 

Cubits  six,  from  end  to  end, 

Must  the  fatal  bench  extend  ; 

Cubits  six,  from  side  to  side, 

Judge  and  culprit  must  divide. 

On  the  east  the  court  assembles. 

On  the  west  the  accused  trembles  ; 

Answer,  brethren,  all  and  one, 

Is  the  ritual  rightly  done  ? 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  ^51 

A  deep  chorus  seemed  to  reply  to  the  question.  Many- 
voices  joined  in  it,  as  well  of  persons  already  in  the  subter- 
ranean vault  as  of  others  who  as  yet  remained  without  in 
various  galleries  and  passages  which  communicated  with  it, 
and  whom  Philipson  now  presumed  to  be  very  numerous.  The 
answer  chanted  ran  as  follows  :  — 

On  life  and  soul,  on  blood  and  bone, 
One  for  all,  and  all  for  one, 
We  warrant  this  is  rightly  done. 

The  original  strain  was  then  renewed  in  the  same  manner 
as  before  — 

How  wears  the  night  ?    Doth  morning  shine 
In  early  radiance  on  the  Rhine  ? 
What  music  floats  upon  his  tide  ? 
Do  birds  the  tardy  morning  chide  ? 
Brethren,  look  out  from  hill  and  height, 
And  answer  true,  how  wears  the  night  ? 

The  answe^  was  returned,  though  less  loud  than  at  first, 
and  it  seemed  that  those  by  whom  the  reply  was  given  were  at 
a  much  greater  distance  than  before ;  yet  the  words  were  dis- 
tinctly heard. 

The  night  is  old  ;  on  Rhine's  broad  breast 
Glance  drowsy  stars  which  long  to  rest. 

No  beams  are  twinkling  in  the  east. 
There  is  a  voice  upon  the  flood. 
The  stern  still  call  of  blood  for  blood  ; 

'T  is  time  we  listen  the  behest. 

The  chorus  replied,  with  many  additional  voices  — 

Up,  then,  up  !     When  day  's  at  rest, 
'T  is  time  that  such  as  we  are  watchers ; 
Rise  to  judgment,  brethren,  rise  ! 
Vengeance  knows  not  sleepy  eyes, 
He  and  night  are  matchers. 

The  nature  of  the  verses  soon  led  Philipson  to  comprehend 
that  he  was  in  presence  of  the  Initiated,  or  the  Wise  Men  — 
names  which  were  applied  to  the  celebrated  judges  of  the 
Secret  Tribunal,  which  continued  at  that  period  to  subsist  in 
Swabia,  Franconia,  and  other  districts  of  the  east  of  Germany, 
which  was  called,  perhaps  irom  the  frightful  and  frequent 
occurrence  of  executions  by  command  of  those  invisible  judges, 
the  Red  Land.  Philipson  had  often  heard  that  the  seat  of  a 
free  count,  or  chief  of  the  Secret  Tribunal,  was  secretly  insti- 


252  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

tuted  even  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Rhine,  and  that  it  main- 
tained itself  in  Alsace,  with  the  usual  tenacity  of  those  secret 
societies,  though  Duke  Charles  of  Burgundy  had  expressed  a 
desire  to  discover  and  discourage  its  influence  so  far  as  was 
possible,  without  exposing  himself  to  danger  from  the  thousands 
of  poniards  which  that  mysterious  tribunal  could  put  in  activity 
against  his  own  life  —  an  awful  means  of  defence,  which  for  a 
long  time  rendered  it  extremely  hazardous  for  the  sovereigns 
of  Germany,  and  even  the  emperors  themselves,  to  pat  down 
by  authority  those  singular  associations. 

So  soon  as  this  explanation  flashed  on  the  mind  of  Philipson, 
it  gave  some  clue  to  the  character  and  condition  of  the  black 
priest  of  St.  Paul's.  Supposing  him  to  be  a  president,  or  chief 
official,  of  the  secret  association,  there  was  little  wonder  that  he 
should  confide  so  much  in  the  inviolability  of  his  terrible  office 
as  to  propose  vindicating  the  execution  of  De  Hagenbach ;  that 
his  presence  should  surprise  Bartholomew,  whom  he  had  power 
to  have  judged  and  executed  upon  the  spot ;  and  that  his  mere 
appearance  at  supper  on  the  preceding  evening  should  have 
appalled  the  guests ;  for  though  everjrthing  about  the  institu- 
tion, its  proceedings  and  its  officers,  was  preserved  in  as  much 
obscurity  as  is  now  practised  in  fi-eemasonry,  yet  the  secret  was 
not  so  absolutely  well  kept  as  to  prevent  certain  individuals 
from  being  guessed  or  hinted  at  as  men  initiated  and  entrusted 
with  high  authority  by  the  Vehmegerichty  or  tribunal  of  the 
bounds.  When  such  suspicion  attached  to  an  individual,  his 
secret  power,  and  supposed  acquaintance  with  all  guilt,  however 
secret,  which  was  committed  within  the  society  in  which  he  was 
conversant,  made  him  at  once  the  dread  and  hatred  of  every 
one  who  looked  on  him ;  and  he  enjoyed  a  high  degree  of 
personal  respect,  on  the  same  terms  on  which  it  would  have 
been  3delded  to  a  powerful  enchanter  or  a  dreaded  genie.  In 
conversing  with  such  a  person,  it  was  especially  necessary  to 
abstain  from  all  questions  alluding,  however  remotely,  to  the 
office  which  he  bore  in  the  Secret  Tribunal;  and,  indeed,  to 
testify  the  least  curiosity  upon  a  subject  so  solemn  and  mysteri- 
ous was  sure  to  occasion  some  misfortune  to  the  inquisitive 
person. 

All  these  things  rushed  at  once  upon  the  mind  of  the  English- 
man, who  felt  that  he  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  an  unsparing 
tribunal,  whose  proceedings  were  so  much  dreaded  by  those 
who  resided  within  the  circle  of  their  power,  that  the  friend- 
less stranger  must  stand  a  poor  chance  of  receiving  justice  at 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  253 

their  hands,  whatever  might  be  his  consciousness  of  innocence. 
While  Philipson  made  this  melancholy  reflection,  he  resolved, 
at  the  same  time,  not  to  forsake  his  own  cause,  but  defend 
himself  as  he  best  might ;  conscious  as  he  was  that  these  ter- 
rible and  irresponsible  judges  were  nevertheless  governed  by- 
certain  rules  of  right  and  wrong,  which  formed  a  check  on  the 
rigours  of  their  extraordinary  code. 

He  lay,  therefore,  devising  the  best  means  of  obviating  the 
present  danger,  while  the  persons  whom  he  beheld  glimmered 
before  him,  less  like  distinct  and  individual  forms  than  like  the 
phantoms  of  a  fever,  or  the  phantasmagoria  with  which  a  dis- 
ease of  the  optic  nerves  has  been  known  to  people  a  sick  man's 
chamber.  At  length  they  assembled  in  the  centre  of  the 
apartment  where  they  had  first  appeared,  and  seemed  to  ar- 
range themselves  into  form  and  order.  A  great  number  of 
black  torches  were  successively  lighted,  and  the  scene  became 
distinctly  visible.  In  the  centre  of  the  hall,  Philipson  could 
now  perceive  one  of  the  altars  which  are  sometimes  to  be  found 
in  ancient  subterranean  chapels.  But  we  must  pause,  in  order 
briefly  to  describe,  not  the  appearance  only,  but  the  nature  and 
constitution,  of  this  terrible  court. 

Behind  the  altar,  which  seemed  to  be  the  central  point,  on 
which  all  eyes  were  bent,  there  were  placed  in  parallel  lines 
two  benches  covered  with  black  cloth.  Each  was  occupied  by  a 
number  of  persons,  who  seemed  assembled  as  judges ;  but  those 
who  held  the  foremost  bench  were  fewer,  and  appeared  of  a 
rank  superior  to  those  who  crowded  the  seat  most  remote  from 
the  altar.  The  first  seemed  to  be  all  men  of  some  consequence 
—  priests  high  in  their  order,  knights,  or  noblemen ;  and,  not- 
withstanding an  appearance  of  equality  which  seemed  to  per- 
vade this  singular  institution,  much  more  weight  was  laid  upon 
their  opinion,  or  testimonies.  They  were  called  iree  knights, 
counts,  or  whatever  title  they  might  bear,  while  the  inferior 
class  of  the  judges  were  only  termed  free  and  worthy  burghers. 
For  it  must  be  observed  that  the  Vehmique  Institution,^  which 
was  the  name  that  it  commonly  bore,  although  its  power  con- 
sisted in  a  wide  system  of  espionage,  and  the  t3rrannical  appli- 
cation of  force  which  acted  upon  it,  was  yet  (so  rude  were  the 
ideas  of  enforcing  public  law)  accounted  to  confer  a  privilege  on 
the  country  in  which  it  was  received,  and  only  freemen  were 
allowed  to  experience  its  influence.  Serfs  and  peasants  could 
neither  have  a  place  among  the  free  judges,  their  assessors,  or 

*  See  Vehme.    Note  5. 


254  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

assistants ;  for  there  was  in  this  assembly  even  some  idea  of 
trying  the  culprit  by  his  peers. 

Besides  the  dignitaries  who  occupied  the  benches,  there 
were  others  who  stood  around,  and  seemed  to  guard  the  various 
entrances  to  the  hall  of  judgment,  or,  standing  behind  the 
seats  on  which  their  superiors  were  ranged,  looked  prepared 
to  execute  their  commands.  These  were  members  of  the 
order,  though  not  of  the  highest  ranks.  Schoppen  is  the  name 
generally  assigned  to  them,  signifying  officials,  or  sergeants,  of 
the  Vehmique  Court,  whose  doom  they  stood  sworn  to  enforce, 
through  good  report  and  bad  report,  against  their  own  nearest 
and  most  beloved,  as  well  as  in  cases  of  ordinary  malefactors. 

The  schopperij  or  scabini,  as  they  were  termed  in  Latin,  had 
another  horrible  duty  to  perform,  that,  namely,  of  denouncing 
to  the  tribunal  whatever  came  under  their  observation  that 
might  be  construed  as  an  offence  falling  under  its  cognizance, 
or,  in  their  language,  a  crime  against  the  Vehme.  This  duty 
extended  to  the  judges  as  well  as  the  assistants,  and  was  to  be 
discharged  without  respect  of  persons ;  so  that  to  know,  and 
wilfully  conceal,  the  guilt  of  a  mother  or  brother  inferred,  on 
the  part  of  the  unfaithful  official,  the  same  penalty  as  if  he 
himself  had  committed  the  crime  which  his  silence  screened 
from  punishment.  Such  an  institution  could  only  prevail  at  a 
time  when  ordinary  means  of  justice  were  excluded  by  the  hand 
of  power,  and  when,  in  order  to  bring  the  guilty  to  punish- 
ment, it  required  all  the  influence  and  authority  of  such  a 
confederacy.  In  no  other  country  than  one  exposed  to  every 
species  of  feudal  tyranny,  and  deprived  of  every  ordinary  mode 
of  obtaining  justice  or  redress,  could  such  a  system  have  taken 
root  and  flourished. 

We  must  now  return  to  the  brave  Englishman,  who,  though 
feeling  all  the  danger  he  encountered  from  so  tremendous 
a  tribunal,  maintained  nevertheless  a  dignified  and  unaltered 
composure. 

The  meeting  being  assembled,  a  coil  of  ropes  and  a  naked 
sword,  the  well-known  signals  and  emblems  of  Vehmique 
authority,  were  deposited  on  the  altar ;  where  the  sword,  from 
its  being  usually  straight,  with  a  cross  handle,  was  considered 
as  representing  the  blessed  emblem  of  Christian  redemption, 
and  the  cord  as  indicating  the  right  of  criminal  jurisdiction 
and  capital  punishment.  Then  the  president  of  the  meeting, 
who  occupied  the  centre  seat  on  the  foremost  bench,  arose,  and, 
laying  his  hand  on  the  symbols,  pronounced  aloud  the  formula 


The  President .  .  .  arose,  and  laying  his  hands  on  the  symbols.' 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  ^55 

expressive  of  the  duty  of  the  tribunal,  which  all  the  inferior 
judges  and  assistants  repeated  after  him,  in  deep  and  hollow 
murmurs. 

*  I  swear,  by  the  Holy  Trinity,  to  aid  and  co-operate  without 
relaxation  in  the  things  belonging  to  the  Holy  Vehme,  to  defend 
its  doctrines  and  institutions  against  father  and  mother,  brother 
and  sister,  wife  and  children;  against  fire,  water,  earth,  and 
air ;  against  all  that  the  sun  enlightens ;  against  all  that  the 
dew  moistens ;  against  all  created  things  of  heaven  and  earth, 
or  the  waters  under  the  earth ;  and  I  swear  to  give  information 
to  this  holy  judicature  of  all  that  I  know  to  be  true,  or  hear 
repeated  by  credible  testimony,  which,  by  the  rules  of  the 
Holy  Vehme,  is  deserving  of  animadversion  or  punishment; 
and  that  I  will  not  cloak,  cover,  or  conceal  such  my  knowl- 
edge, neither  for  love,  friendship,  or  family  affection,  nor  for 
gold,  silver,  or  precious  stones ;  neither  will  I  associate  with 
such  as  are  under  the  sentence  of  this  Sacred  Tribunal,  by 
hinting  to  a  culprit  his  danger,  or  advising  him  to  escape,  or 
aiding  and  supplying  him  with  counsel,  or  means  to  that 
effect;  neither  will  I  relieve  such  culprit  with  fire,  clothes, 
food,  or  shelter,  though  my  father  should  require  from  me  a 
cup  of  water  in  the  heat  of  summer  noon,  or  my  brother  should 
request  to  sit  by  my  fire  in  the  bitterest  cold  night  of  wint^er  : 
And  further,  I  vow  and  promise  to  honour  this  holy  associa- 
tion, and  do  its  behests  speedily,  faithfully,  and  firmly,  in 
preference  to  those  of  any  other  tribunal  whatsoever  —  so  help 
me  God  and  His  holy  Evangelists.' 

When  this  oath  of  office  had  been  taken,  the  president, 
addressing  the  assembly,  as  men  who  judge  in  secret  and 
punish  in  secret,  like  the  Deity,  desired  them  to  say  why 
this  '  child  of  the  cord '  ^  lay  before  them,  bound  and  helpless. 
An  individual  rose  from  the  more  remote  bench,  and  in  a 
voice  which,  though  altered  and  agitated,  Philipson  conceived 
that  he  recognised,  declared  himself  the  accuser,  as  bound  by 
his  oath,  of  the  child  of  the  cord,  or  prisoner,  who  lay  before 
them. 

'Bring  forward  the  prisoner,'  said  the  president,  'duly 
secured,  as  is  the  order  of  our  secret  law ;  but  not  with  such 
severity  as  may  interrupt  his  attention  to  the  proceedings  of 
the  tribunal,  or  limit  his  power  of  hearing  and  replying.' 

Six  of  the  assistants  immediately  dragged  forward  the  pallet 

1  The  term  Strickkind,  or  child  of  the  cord,  was  applied  to  the  person 
accused  before  these  awful  assemhiies. 


256  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

and  platform  of  boards  on  which  Philipson  lay,  and  advanced 
it  towards  the  foot  of  the  altar.  This  done,  each  unsheathed 
his  dagger,  while  two  of  them  unloosed  the  cords  by  which 
the  merchant's  hands  were  secured,  and  admonished  him  in  a 
whisper  that  the  slightest  attempt  to  resist  or  escape  would  be 
the  signal  to  stab  him  dead. 

'  Arise ! '  said  the  president ;  *  listen  to  the  charge  to  be 
preferred  against  you,  and  believe  you  shall  in  us  find  judges 
equally  just  and  inflexible.' 

Philipson,  carefully  avoiding  any  gesture  which  might  indi- 
cate a  desire  to  escape,  raised  his  body  on  the  lower  part  of 
the  couch,  and  remained  seated,  clothed  as  he  was  in  his  under- 
vest  and  calegons,  or  drawers,  so  as  exactly  to  face  the  muffled 
president  of  the  terrible  court.  Even  in  these  agitating  cir- 
cumstances, the  mind  of  the  undaunted  Englishman  remained 
unshaken,  and  his  eyelid  did  not  quiver,  nor  his  heart  beat 
quicker,  though  he  seemed,  according  to  the  expression  of 
Scripture,  to  be  a  pilgrim  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shadow  of 
Death,  beset  by  numerous  snares,  and  encompassed  by  total 
darkness,  where  light  was  most  necessary  for  safety. 

The  president  demanded  his  name,  country,  and  occupation. 

'John  Philipson,'  was  the  reply;  'by  birth  an  Englishman, 
by  profession  a  merchant.' 

'  Have  you  ever  borne  any  other  name  and  profession  ? ' 
demanded  the  judge. 

'I  have  been  a  soldier,  and,  like  most  others,  had  then  a 
name  by  which  I  was  known  in  war.' 

'  What  was  that  name  ? ' 

'  I  laid  it  aside  when  I  resigned  my  sword,  and  I  do  not 
desire  again  to  be  known  by  it.  Moreover,  I  never  bore  it 
where  your  institutions  have  weight  and  authority,'  answered 
the  Englishman. 

*  Know  you  before  whom  you  stand  ? '  continued  the  judge. 

*I  may  at  least  guess,'  replied  the  merchant. 

'Tell  your  guess,  then,'  continued  the  interrogator.  'Say 
who  we  are,  and  wherefore  are  you  before  us  ? ' 

'  I  believe  that  I  am  before  the  Unknown,  or  Secret  Tribunal, 
which  is  called  Vehmegericht.' 

'  Then  are  you  aware,'  answered  the  judge,  '  that  you  would 
be  safer  if  you  were  suspended  by  .the  hair  over  the  abyss  of 
Schafihausen,  or  if  you  lay  below  an  axe,  which  a  thread  of 
silk  alone  kept  back  from  the  fall.  What  have  you  done  to 
deserve  such  a  fate?' 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  257 

*  Let  those  reply  by  whom  I  am  subjected  to  it,'  answered 
Philipson,  with  the  same  composure  as  before. 

*  Speak,  accuser ! '  said  the  president,  *  to  the  four  quarters 
of  heaven,  to  the  ears  of  the  free  judges  of  this  tribunal,  and 
the  faithful  executors  of  their  doom ;  and  to  the  face  of  the 
child  of  the  cord,  who  denies  or  conceals  his  guilt,  make  good 
the  substance  of  thine  accusation.' 

*  Most  dreaded,'  answered  the  accuser,  addressing  the  presi- 
dent, 'this  man  hath  entered  the  Sacred  Territory,  which  is 
called  the  Red  Land,  a  stranger  under  a  disguised  name  and 
profession.  When  he  was  yet  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Alps, 
at  Turin,  in  Lombardy,  and  elsewhere,  he  at  various  times 
spoke  of  the  Holy  Tribunal  in  terms  of  hatred  and  contempt, 
and  declared  that,  were  he  Duke  of  Burgundy,  he  would  not 
permit  it  to  extend  itself  from  Westphalia,  or  Swabia,  into  his 
dominions.  Also  I  charge  him  that,  nourishing  this  malevolent 
intention  against  the  Holy  Tribunal,  he  who  now  appears 
before  the  bench  as  child  of  the  cord  has  intimated  his  inten- 
tion to  wait  upon  the  court  of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  and  use 
his  influence  with  him,  which  he  boasts  will  prove  effectual  to 
stir  him  up  to  prohibit  the  meetings  of  the  Holy  Vehme  in  his 
dominions,  and  to  inflict  on  their  oflicers  and  the  executors  of 
their  mandates  the  punishment  due  to  robbers  and  assassins.' 

'  This  is  a  heavy  charge,  brother,'  said  the  president  of  the 
assembly,  when  the  accuser  ceased  speaking.  'How  do  you 
purpose  to  make  it  goodV 

'  According  to  the  tenor  of  those  secret  statutes  the  perusal 
of  which  is  prohibited  to  all  but  the  initiated,'  answered  the 
accuser. 

'  It  is  well,'  said  the  president ;  '  but  I  ask  thee  once  more, 
what  are  those  means  of  proof?  You  speak  to  holy  and  to 
initiated  ears.' 

'I  will  prove  my  charge,'  said  the  accuser,  'by  the  confes- 
sion of  the  party  himself  and  by  my  own  oath  upon  the  holy 
emblems  of  the  Secret  Judgment  —  that  is,  the  steel  and  the 
cord.' 

'  It  is  a  legitimate  offer  of  proof,'  said  a  member  of  the 
aristocratic  bench  of  the  assembly  ;  '  and  it  much  concerns  the 
safety  of  the  system  to  which  we  are  bound  by  such  deep 
oaths,  a  system  handed  down  to  us  from  the  most  Christian 
and  Holy  Roman  Emperor,  Charlemagne,  for  the  conversion  of 
the  heathen  Saracens,  and  punishing  such  of  them  as  revolted 
again  to  their  pagan  practices,  that  such  criminals  should  be 

VOL.  XXIII  — 17 


258  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

looked  to.  This  Duke  Charles  of  Burgundy  hath  abeady 
crowded  his  army  with  foreigners,  whom  he  can  easily  employ 
against  this  Sacred  Court,  more  especially  with  English,  a  fierce, 
insular  people,  wedded  to  their  own  usages,  and  hating  those 
of  every  other  nation.  It  is  not  unknown  to  us,  that  the  Duke 
hath  already  encouraged  opposition  to  the  officials  of  the  Tri- 
bunal in  more  than  one  part  of  his  German  dominions ;  and 
that  in  consequence,  instead  of  submitting  to  their  doom  with 
reverent  resignation,  children  of  the  cord  have  been  found  bold 
enough  to  resist  the  executioners  of  the  Vehme,  striking, 
wounding,  and  even  slaying  those  who  have  received  commis- 
sion to  put  them  to  death.  This  contumacy  must  be  put  an 
end  to ;  and  if  the  accused  shall  be  proved  to  be  one  of  those 
by  whom  such  doctrines  are  harboured  and  inculcated,  I  say, 
let  the  steel  and  cord  do  their  work  on  him.' 

A  general  murmur  seemed  to  approve  what  the  speaker  had 
said;  for  all  were  conscious  that  the  power  of  the  Tribunal 
depended  much  more  on  the  opinion  of  its  being  deeply  and 
firmly  rooted  in  the  general  system  than  upon  any  regard  or 
esteem  for  an  institution  of  which  all  felt  the  severity.  It 
followed,  that  those  of  the  members  who  enjoyed  consequence 
by  means  of  their  station  in  the  ranks  of  the  Vehme  saw  the 
necessity  of  supporting  its  terrors  by  occasional  examples  of 
severe  punishment ;  and  none  could  be  more  readily  sacrificed 
than  an  unknown  and  wandering  foreigner.  All  this  rushed 
upon  Philipson's  mind,  but  did  not  prevent  his  making  a  steady 
reply  to  the  accusation. 

'Gentlemen,'  he  said,  *good  citizens,  burgesses,  or  by  what- 
ever other  name  you  please  to  be  addressed,  know,  that  in  my 
former  days  I  have  stood  in  as  great  peril  as  now,  and  have 
never  turned  my  heel  to  save  my  life.  Cords  and  daggers  are 
not  calculated  to  strike  terror  into  those  who  have  seen  swords 
and  lances.  My  answer  to  the  accusation  is,  that  I  am  an 
Englishman,  one  of  a  nation  accustomed  to  yield  and  to  receive 
open-handed  and  equal  justice  dealt  forth  in  the  broad  light  of 
day.  I  am,  however,  a  traveller,  who  knows  that  he  has  no 
right  to  oppose  the  rules  and  laws  of  other  nations  because 
they  do  not  resemble  those  of  his  own.  But  this  caution  can 
only  be  called  for  in  lands  where  the  system  about  which  we 
converse  is  in  full  force  and  operation.  If  we  speak  of  the  insti- 
tutions of  Germany,  being  at  the  time  in  France  or  Spain,  we 
may,  without  offence  to  the  country  in  which  they  are  current, 
dispute  concerning  them  as  students  debate  upon  a  logical 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  259 

thesis  in  a  university.  The  accuser  objects  to  me,  that  at 
Turin,  or  elsewhere  in  the  north  of  Italy,  I  spoke  with  censure 
of  the  institution  under  which  I  am  now  judged.  I  will  not 
deny  that  I  remember  something  of  the  Kind ;  but  it  was  in 
consequence  of  the  question  being  in  a  manner  forced  upon  me 
by  two  guests  with  whom  I  chanced  to  find  myself  at  table. 
I  was  much  and  earnestly  solicited  for  an  opinion  ere  I  gave 
one.' 

'And  was  that  opinion,'  said  the  presiding  judge,  'favour- 
able or  otherwise  to  the  Holy  and  Secret  Vehmegericht  ?  Let 
truth  rule  your  tongue;  remember,  life  is  short,  judgment  is 
eternal.' 

*  I  would  not  save  my  life  at  the  expense  of  a  falsehood.  My 
opinion  was  unfavourable,  and  I  expressed  myself  thus  :  No 
laws  or  judicial  proceedings  can  be  just  or  commendable  which 
exist  and  operate  by  means  of  a  secret  combination.  I  said, 
that  justice  could  only  live  and  exist  in  the  open  air,  and  that, 
when  she  ceased  to  be  public,  she  degenerated  into  revenge  and 
hatred.  I  said,  that  a  system,  of  which  your  own  jurists  have 
said,  mm  f rater  a  fratre,  non  hospes  a  hospite^  tutus,  was  too  much 
adverse  to  the  laws  of  nature  to  be  connected  with  or  regulated 
by  those  of  religion.' 

These  words  were  scarcely  uttered,  when  there  burst  a  mur- 
mur from  the  judges  highly  unfavourable  to  the  prisoner. 
'  He  blasphemes  the  Holy  Vehme.  Let  his  mouth  be  closed 
for  ever ! ' 

'  Hear  me,'  said  the  Englishman,  '  as  you  will  one  day  wish 
to  be  yourselves  heard !  I  say,  such  were  my  sentiments,  and 
so  I  expressed  them.  I  say  also,  I  had  a  right  to  express  these 
opinions,  whether  sound  or  erroneous,  in  a  neutral  country, 
where  this  tribunal  neither  did  nor  could  claim  any  jurisdic- 
tion. My  sentiments  are  still  the  same.  I  would  avow  them 
if  that  sword  were  at  my  bosom,  or  that  cord  around  my  throat. 
But  I  deny  that  I  have  ever  spoken  against  the  institutions  of 
your  Vehme  in  a  country  where  it  had  its  course  as  a  national 
mode  of  justice.  Far  more  strongly,  if  possible,  do  I  denounce 
the  absurdity  of  the  falsehood,  which  represents  me,  a  wander- 
ing foreigner,  as  commissioned  to  traffic  with  the  Duke  of 
Burgundy  about  such  high  matters,  or  to  form  a  conspiracy  for 
the  destruction  of  a  system  to  which  so  many  seem  warmly 
attached.     I  never  said  such  a  thing,  and  I  never  thought  it.' 

'Accuser,'  said  the  presiding  judge,  'thou  hast  heard  the 
accused.    What  is  thy  reply?' 


260  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

'The  first  part  of  the  charge,'  said  the  accuser,  'he  hath 
confessed  in  this  high  presence,  namely,  that  his  foul  tongue 
hath  basely  slandered  our  holy  mysteries ;  for  which  he  deserves 
that  it  should  be  torn  out  of  his  throat.  I  myself,  on  my  oath 
of  office,  will  aver,  as  use  and  law  is,  that  the  rest  of  the 
accusation,  namely,  that  which  taxes  him  as  having  entered 
into  machinations  for  the  destruction  of  the  Vehmique  institu- 
tions, is  as  true  as  that  which  he  has  found  himself  unable 
to  deny.' 

*In  justice,'  said  the  Englishman,  'the  accusation,  if  not 
made  good  by  satisfactory  proof,  ought  to  be  left  to  the  oath 
of  the  party  accused,  instead  of  permitting  the  accuser  to 
establish  by  his  own  deposition  the  defects  in  his  own  charge.' 

'Stranger,'  replied  the  presiding  judge,  'we  permit  to  thy 
ignorance  a  longer  and  more  full  defence  than  consists  with 
our  usual  forms.  Know,  that  the  right  of  sitting  among  these 
venerable  judges  confers  on  the  person  of  him  who  enjoys  it 
a  sacredness  of  character  which  ordinary  men  cannot  attain 
to.  The  oath  of  one  of  the  initiated  must  counterbalance  the 
most  solemn  asseveration  of  every  one  that  is  not  acquainted 
with  our  holy  secrets.  In  the  Vehmique  Court  all  must  be 
Vehmique.  The  averment  of  the  Emperor,  he  being  uninitiated, 
would  not  have  so  much  weight  in  our  counsels  as  that  of  one 
of  the  meanest  of  these  officials.  The  affirmation  of  the  accuser 
can  only  be  rebutted  by  the  oath  of  a  member  of  the  same 
tribunal,  being  of  superior  rank.' 

'  Then  God  be  gracious  to  me,  for  I  have  no  trust  save  in 
Heaven ! '  said  the  Englishman,  in  solemn  accents.  '  Yet  I  will 
not  fall  without  an  effi^rt.  I  call  upon  thee  thyself,  dark 
spirit,  who  presidest  in  this  most  deadly  assembly  —  I  call  upon 
thyself,  to  declare  on  thy  faith  and  honour  whether  thou 
boldest  me  guilty  of  what  is  thus  boldly  averred  by  this  false 
calumniator  —  I  call  upon  thee  by  thy  sacred  character  —  by 
the  name  of ' 

'  Hold ! '  replied  the  presiding  judge.  '  The  name  by  which 
we  are  known  in  open  air  must  not  be  pronounced  in  this  sub- 
terranean j  udgment-  seat. ' 

He  then  proceeded  to  address  the  prisoner  and  the  assembly. 
*  I,  being  called  on  in  evidence,  declare  that  the  charge  against 
thee  is  so  far  true  as  it  is  acknowledged  by  thyself,  namely, 
that  thou  hast  in  other  lands  than  the  Red  Soil  ^  spoken  lightly 
of  this  holy  institution  of  justice.     But  I  believe  in  my  soul, 

1  See  Note  6. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  261 

and  will  bear  witness  on  my  honour,  that  the  rest  of  the 
accusation  is  incredible  and  false.  And  this  I  swear,  holding 
my  hand  on  the  dagger  and  the  cord.  What  is  your  judgment, 
my  brethren,  upon  the  case  which  you  have  investigated?' 

A  member  of  the  first-seated  and  highest  class  amongst  the 
judges,  muffled  like  the  rest,  but  the  tone  of  whose  voice  and 
the  stoop  of  whose  person  announced  him  to  be  more  advanced 
in  years  than  the  other  two  who  had  before  spoken,  arose  with 
difficulty,  and  said  with  a  trembling  voice  — 

*  The  child  of  the  cord  who  is  before  us  has  been  convicted 
of  folly  and  rashness  in  slandering  our  holy  institution.  But 
he  spoke  his  folly  to  ears  which  had  never  heard  our  sacred 
laws.  He  has,  therefore,  been  acquitted  by  irrefragable  testi- 
mony of  combining  for  the  impotent  purpose  of  undermining 
our  power,  or  stirring  up  princes  against  our  holy  association, 
for  which  death  were  too  light  a  punishment.  He  hath  been 
foolish,  then,  but  not  criminal ;  and  as  the  holy  laws  of  the 
Vehme  bear  no  penalty  save  that  of  death,  I  propose  for 
judgment  that  the  child  of  the  cord  be  restored  without  injury 
to  society,  and  to  the  upper  world,  having  been  first  duly 
admonished  of  his  errors.' 

'Child  of  the  cord,'  said  the  presiding  judge,  'thou  hast 
heard  thy  sentence  of  acquittal.  But,  as  thou  desirest  to  sleep 
in  an  unbloody  grave,  let  me  warn  thee  that  the  secrets  of 
this  night  shall  remain  with  thee,  as  a  secret  not  to  be  com- 
municated to  father  nor  mother,  to  spouse,  son,  or  daughter, 
neither  to  be  spoken  aloud  nor  whispered,  to  be  told  in  words 
or  written  in  characters,  to  be  carved  or  to  be  painted,  or  to 
be  otherwise  communicated,  either  directly  or  by  parable  and 
emblem.  Obey  this  behest,  and  thy  life  is  in  surety.  Let  thy 
heart  then  rejoice  within  thee,  but  let  it  rejoice  with  trembling. 
Nevermore  let  thy  vanity  persuade  thee  that  thou  art  secure 
from  the  servants  and  judges  of  the  Holy  Vehme.  Though  a 
thousand  leagues  lie  between  thee  and  the  Red  Land,  and  thou 
speakest  in  that  where  our  power  is  not  known ;  though  thou 
shouldst  be  sheltered  by  thy  native  island,  and  defended  by 
thy  kindred  ocean,  yet,  even  there,  I  warn  thee  to  cross  thyself 
when  thou  dost  so  much  as  think  of  the  Holy  and  Invisible 
Tribunal,  and  to  retain  thy  thoughts  within  thine  own  bosom  ; 
for  the  avenger  may  be  beside  thee,  and  thou  mayst  die  in  thy 
folly.  Go  hence,  be  wise,  and  let  the  fear  of  the  Holy  Vehme 
never  pass  from  before  thine  eyes.' 

At  the  concluding  words,  all  the  lights  were  at  once  ex- 


9m  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

tinguished  with  a  hissing  noise.  Philipson  felt  once  more  the 
grasp  of  the  hands  of  the  oiB&cials,  to  which  he  resigned  him- 
self as  the  safest  course.  He  was  gently  prostrated  on  his 
Eallet-bed,  and  transported  back  to  the  place  from  which  he 
ad  been  advanced  to  the  foot  of  the  altar.  The  cordage  was 
again  applied  to  the  platform,  and  Philipson  was  sensible  that 
his  couch  rose  with  him  for  a  few  moments,  until  a  slight  shock 
apprised  him  that  he  was  again  brought  to  a  level  with  the 
floor  of  the  chamber  in  which  he  had  been  lodged  on  the  pre- 
ceding night,  or  rather  morning.  He  pondered  over  the  events 
that  had  passed,  in  which  he  was  sensible  that  he  owed  Heaven 
thanks  for  a  great  deliverance.  Fatigue  at  length  prevailed 
over  anxiety,  and  he  fell  into  a  deep  and  profound  sleep,  from 
which  he  was  only  awakened  by  returning  light.  He  resolved 
on  an  instant  departure  from  so  dangerous  a  spot,  and,  without 
seeing  any  one  of  the  household  but  the  old  ostler,  pursued  his 
journey  to  Strasburg,  and  reached  that  city  without  farther 
accident 


CHAPTER   XXI 

Away  with  these  !     True  Wisdom's  world  will  be 

Within  its  own  creation,  or  in  thine, 

Maternal  Nature,  for  who  teems  like  thee 

Thus  on  the  banks  of  thy  majestic  Rhine  ? 

There  Harold  gazes  on  a  work  divine, 

A  blending  of  all  beauties,  streams,  and  dells  — 

Fruit,  foliage,  crag,  wood,  cornfield,  mountain,  vine, 

And  chiefless  castles  breathing  stern  farewells, 

From  grey  but  leafy  walls,  where  ruin  greenly  dwells. 

Childe  Harold's  Pilgrimage^  Canto  III. 

WHEN  Arthur  Philipson  left  his  father,  to  go  on  board 
the  bark  which  was  to  waft  him  across  the  Rhine, 
he  took  but  few  precautions  for  his  own  subsistence 
during  a  separation  of  which  he  calculated  the  duration  to  be 
very  brief.  Some  necessary  change  of  raiment  and  a  very  few 
pieces  of  gold  were  all  which  he  thought  it  needful  to  withdraw 
from  the  general  stock ;  the  rest  of  the  baggage  and  money  he 
lefb  with  the  sumpter-horse,  which  he  concluded  his  father 
might  need,  in  order  to  sustain  his  character  as  an  English 
trader.  Having  embarked  with  his  horse  and  his  slender  ap- 
pointments on  board  a  fishing-skifif,  she  instantly  raised  her 
temporary  mast,  spread  a  sail  across  the  yard,  and,  supported 
by  the  force  of  the  wind  against  the  downward  power  of  the 
current,  moved  across  the  river  obliquely  in  the  direction  of 
Kirchhoff,  which,  as  we  have  said,  lies  somewhat  lower  on  the 
river  than  Hans  Chapelle.  Their  passage  was  so  favourable, 
that  they  reached  the  opposite  side  in  a  few  minutes,  but  not 
until  Arthur,  whose  eye  and  thoughts  were  on  the  left  bank, 
had  seen  his  father  depart  from  the  Chapel  of  the  Ferry,  accom- 
panied by  two  horsemen,  whom  he  readily  concluded  ta  be  the 
guide  Bartholomew  and  some  chance  traveller  who  had  joined 
him ;  but  the  second  of  whom  was  in  truth  the  black  priest  of 
St.  Paul's,  as  has  been  already  mentioned. 
This  augmentation  of  his  father's  company  was,  he  could  not 


264  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

but  think,  likely  to  be  attended  with  an  increase  of  his  safety, 
since  it  was  not  probable  he  would  suffer  a  companion  to  be 
forced  upon  him,  and  one  of  his  own  choosing  might  be  a  pro- 
tection, in  case  his  guide  should  prove  treacherous.  At  any 
rate,  he  had  to  rejoice  that  he  had  seen  his  father  depart  in 
safety  from  the  spot  where  they  had  reason  to  apprehend  some 
danger  awaited  him.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to  make  no  stay 
at  KirchhofF,  but  to  pursue  his  way  as  fast  as  possible  towards 
Strasburg,  and  rest,  when  darkness  compelled  him  to  stop,  in 
one  of  the  dorffs,  or  villages,  which  were  situated  on  the  Ger- 
man side  of  the  Rhine.  At  Strasburg,  he  trusted,  with  the 
sanguine  spirit  of  youth,  he  might  again  be  able  to  rejoin  his 
father ;  and  if  he  could  not  altogether  subdue  his  anxiety  on 
their  separation,  he  fondly  nourished  the  hope  that  he  might 
meet  him  in  safety.  After  some  short  refreshment  and  repose 
afforded  to  his  horse,  he  lost  no  time  in  proceeding  on  his 
journey  down  the  eastern  bank  of  the  broad  river. 

He  was  now  upon  the  most  interesting  side  of  the  Rhine, 
walled  in  and  repelled  as  the  river  is  on  that  shore  by  the 
most  romantic  cliffs,  now  mantled  with  vegetation  of  the  richest 
hue,  tinged  with  all  the  variegated  colours  of  autumn;  now 
surmounted  by  fortresses,  over  whose  gates  were  displayed  the 
pennons  of  their  proud  owners ;  or  studded  with  hamlets,  where 
the  richness  of  the  soil  supplied  to  the  poor  labourer  the  food 
of  which  the  oppressive  hand  of  his  superior  threatened  alto- 
gether to  deprive  him.  Every  stream  which  here  contributes 
its  waters  to  the  Rhine  winds  through  its  own  tributary  dell, 
and  each  valley  possesses  a  varying  and  separate  character  — 
some  rich  with  pastures,  cornfields,  and  vineyards,  some  frown- 
ing with  crags  and  precipices  and  other  romantic  beauties. 

The  principles  of  taste  were  not  then  explained  or  analysed 
as  they  have  been  since,  in  countries  where  leisure  has  been 
found  for  this  investigation.  But  the  feelings  arising  from  so 
rich  a  landscape  as  is  displayed  by  the  valley  of  the  Rhine 
must  have  been  the  same  in  every  bosom,  from  the  period 
when  our  Englishman  took  his  solitary  journey  through  it,  in 
doubt  and  danger,  till  that  in  which  it  heard  the  indignant 
Childe  Harold  bid  a  proud  farewell  to  his  native  country,  in 
the  vain  search  of  a  land  in  which  his  heart  might  throb  less 
fiercely. 

Arthur  enjoyed  this  scene,  although  the  fading  daylight 
began  to  remind  him  that,  alone  as  he  was,  and  travelling  with 
a  very  valuable  charge,  it  would  be  matter  of  prudence  to  look 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  ^65 

out  for  some  place  of  rest  during  the  night.  Just  as  he  had 
formed  the  resolution  of  inquiring  at  the  next  habitation  he 
passed  which  way  he  should  follow  for  this  purpose,  the  road 
he  pursued  descended  into  a  beautiful  amphitheatre  filled 
with  large  trees,  which  protected  from  the  heats  of  summer  the 
delicate  and  tender  herbage  of  the  pasture.  A  large  brook 
flowed  through  it  and  joined  the  Rhine.  At  a  short  mile  up 
the  brook,  its  waters  made  a  crescent  round  a  steep,  craggy 
eminence,  crowned  with  flanking  walls,  and  Gothic  towers  and 
turrets,  inclosing  a  feudal  castle  of  the  first  order.  A  part  of 
the  savannah  that  has  been  mentioned  had  been  irregularly 
cultivated  for  wheat,  which  had  grown  a  plentiful  crop.  It 
was  gathered  in,  but  the  patches  of  deep  yellow  stubble  con- 
trasted with  the  green  of  the  undisturbed  pasture-land,  and 
with  the  seared  and  dark-red  foliage  of  the  broad  oaks  which 
stretched  their  arms  athwart  the  level  space.  There  a  lad  in 
a  rustic  dress  was  employed  in  the  task  of  netting  a  brood  of 
partridges,  with  the  assistance  of  a  trained  spaniel ;  while  a 
young  woman,  who  had  the  air  rather  of  a  domestic  in  some 
family  of  rank  than  that  of  an  ordinary  villager,  sat  on  the 
stump  of  a  decayed  tree,  to  watch  the  progress  of  the  amuse- 
ment. The  spaniel,  whose  duty  it  was  to  drive  the  partridges 
under  the  net,  was  perceptibly  disturbed  at  the  approach  of 
the  traveller ;  his  attention  was  divided,  and  he  was  obviously 
in  danger  of  marring  the  sport,  by  barking  and  putting  up 
the  covey,  when  the  maiden  quitted  her  seat,  and,  advancing 
towards  Philipson,  requested  him,  for  courtesy,  to  pass  at  a 
greater  distance,  and  not  interfere  with  their  amusement. 

The  traveller  willingly  complied  with  her  request. 

'  I  will  ride,  fair  damsel,'  he  said,  *  at  whatever  distance  you 
please.  And  allow  me,  in  guerdon,  to  ask  whether  there  is 
convent,  castle,  or  good  man's  house  where  a  stranger,  who 
is  belated  and  weary,  might  receive  a  night's  hospitality  ? ' 

The  girl,  whose  face  he  had  not  yet  distinctly  seen,  seemed 
to  suppress  some  desire  to  laugh,  as  she  replied,  '  Hath  not  yon 
castle,  think  you,'  pointing  to  the  distant  towers,  '  some  corner 
which  might  accommodate  a  stranger  in  such  extremity  1 ' 

'Space  enough,  certainly,'  said  Arthur;  'but  perhaps  little 
inclination  to  grant  it.' 

*  I  myself,'  said  the  girl,  *  being  one,  and  a  formidable  part, 
of  the  garrison,  will  be  answerable  for  your  reception.  But  as 
you  parley  with  me  in  such  hostile  fashion,  it  is  according  to 
martial  order  that  I  should  put  down  my  visor.' 


^6  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

So  saying,  she  concealed  her  face  under  one  of  those  riding- 
masks  which  at  that  period  women  often  wore  when  they  went 
abroad,  whether  for  protecting  their  complexion  or  screening 
themselves  from  intrusive  observation.  But,  ere  she  could 
accomplish  this  operation,  Arthur  had  detected  the  merry 
countenance  of  Annette  Veilchen,  a  girl  who,  though  her 
attendance  on  Anne  of  Geierstein  was  in  a  menial  capacity, 
was  held  in  high  estimation  at  Geierstein.  She  was  a  bold 
wench,  unaccustomed  to  the  distinctions  of  rank,  which  were 
little  regarded  in  the  simpKcity  of  the  Helvetian  hills,  and  she 
was  ready  to  laugh,  jest,  and  flirt  with  the  young  men  of  the 
Landamman's  family.  This  attracted  no  attention,  the  moun- 
tain manners  making  little  distinction  between  the  degrees  of 
attendant  and  mistress,  further  than  that  the  mistress  was  a 
young  woman  who  required  help  and  the  maiden  one  who  was 
in  a  situation  to  offer  and  afford  it.  This  kind  of  familiarity 
would  perhaps  have  been  dangerous  in  other  lands,  but  the 
simplicity  of  Swiss  manners,  and  the  turn  of  Annette's  disposi- 
tion, which  was  resolute  and  sensible,  though  rather  bold  and 
free,  when  compared  to  the  manners  of  more  civilised  countries, 
kept  all  intercourse  betwixt  her  and  the  young  men  of  the 
family  in  the  strict  path  of  honour  and  innocence. 

Arthur  himself  had  paid  considerable  attention  to  Annette, 
being  naturally,  from  his  feelings  towards  Anne  of  Geierstein, 
heartily  desirous  to  possess  the  good  graces  of  her  attendant  — 
a  point  which  was  easily  gained  by  the  attentions  of  a  hand- 
some young  man,  and  the  generosity  with  which  he  heaped 
upon  her  small  presents  of  articles  of  dress  or  ornament,  which 
the  damsel,  however  faithful,  could  find  no  heart  to  refuse. 

The  assurance  that  he  was  in  Anne's  neighbourhood,  and 
that  he  was  likely  to  pass  the  night  under  the  same  roof,  both 
of  which  circumstances  were  intimated  by  the  girl's  presence 
and  language,  sent  the  blood  in  a,  hastier  current  through 
Arthur's  veins ;  for  though,  since  he  had  crossed  the  river,  he 
had  sometimes  nourished  hopes  of  again  seeing  her  who  had 
made  so  strong  an  in^ression  on  his  imagination,  yet  his  under- 
standing had  as  often  told  him  how  slight  was  the  chance  of 
their  meeting,  and  it  was  even  now  chilled  by  the  reflection 
that  it  could  be  followed  only  by  the  pain  of  a  sudden  and  final 
separation.  He  yielded  himself,  however,  to  the  prospect  of 
promised  pleasure,  without  attempting  to  ascertain  what  was 
to  be  its  duration  or  its  consequence.  Desirous,  in  the  mean- 
time, to  hear  as  much  of  Anne's  circumstances  as  Annette  chose 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  9J&1 

to  tell,  he  resolved  not  to  let  that  merry  maiden  perceive  that 
she  was  known  by  him,  until  she  chose  of  her  own  accord  to 
lay  aside  her  mystery. 

While  these  thoughts  passed  rapidly  through  his  imagina- 
tion, Annette  bade  the  lad  drop  his  nets,  and  directed  him  that, 
having  taken  two  of  the  best-fed  partridges  from  the  covey  and 
carried  them  into  the  kitchen,  he  was  to  set  the  rest  at  liberty. 

*1  must  provide  supper,'  said  she  to  the  traveller,  'since  I 
am  bringing  home  unexpected  company.' 

Arthur  earnestly  expressed  his  hope  that  his  experiencing 
the  hospitality  of  the  castle  would  occasion  no  trouble  to  the 
inmates,  and  received  satisfactory  assurances  upon  the  subject 
of  his  scruples. 

'  I  would  not  willingly  be  the  cause  of  inconvenience  to  your 
mistress,'  pursued  the  traveller. 

'Look  you  there,'  said  Annette  Veilchen,  *I  have  said  noth- 
ing of  master  or  mistress,  and  this  poor  forlorn  traveller  has 
already  concluded  in  his  own  mind  that  he  is  to  be  harboured 
in  a  lady's  bower  ! ' 

'  Why,  did  you  not  tell  me,'  said  Arthur,  somewhat  confused 
at  his  blunder,  '  that  you  were  the  person  of  second  importance 
in  the  place  1  A  damsel,  I  judged,  could  only  be  an  officer 
under  a  female  governor.' 

'I  do  not  see  the  justice  of  the  conclusion,'  replied  the 
maiden.  'I  have  known  ladies  bear  offices  of  trust  in  lords' 
families — nay,  and  over  the  lords  themselves.' 

'Am  I  to  understand,  fair  damsel,  that  you  hold  so  pre- 
dominant a  situation  in  the  castle  which  we  are  now  approach- 
ing, and  of  which  I  pray  you  to  tell  me  the  name  ? ' 

'  The  name  of  the  castle  is  Amheim,'  said  Annette. 

'Your  garrison  must  be  a  large  one,'  said  Arthur,  looking 
at  the  extensive  building,  '  if  you  are  able  to  man  such  a  laby- 
rinth of  walls  and  towers.' 

'  In  that  point,'  said  Annette,  '  I  must  needs  own  we  are 
very  deficient.  At  present,  we  rather  hide  in  the  castle  than 
inhabit  it ;  and  yet  it  is  well  enough  defended  by  the  reports 
which  frighten  every  other  person  who  might  disturb  its 
seclusion.' 

'  And  yet  you  yourselves  dare  to  reside  in  it  1 '  said  the  Eng- 
lishman, recollecting  the  tale  which  had  been  told  by  Rudolph 
Donnerhugel  concerning  the  character  of  the  Barons  of  Am- 
heim, and  the  final  catastrophe  of  the  family. 

'  Perhaps,'  replied  his  guide,  '  we  are  too  intimate  with  the 


268  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

cause  of  such  fears  to  feel  ourselves  strongly  oppressed  with 
them;  perhaps  we  have  means  of  encountering  the  supposed 
terrors  proper  to  ourselves;  perhaps,  and  it  is  not  the  least 
likely  conjecture,  we  have  no  choice  of  a  better  place  of  refuge. 
Such  seems  to  be  your  own  fate  at  present,  sir,  for  the  tops  of 
the  distant  hills  are  gradually  losing  the  lights  of  the  evening, 
and  if  you  rest  not  in  Arnheim,  well  contented  or  not,  you  are 
likely  to  find  no  safe  lodging  for  many  a  mile.' 

As  she  thus  spoke,  she  separated  from  Arthur,  taking,  with 
the  fowler  who  attended  her,  a  very  steep  but  short  footpath, 
which  ascended  straight  up  to  the  site  of  the  castle ;  at  the 
same  time  motioning  to  the  young  Englishman  to  follow  a 
horse-track,  which,  more  circuitous,  led  to  the  same  point,  and, 
though  less  direct,  was  considerably  more  easy. 

He  soon  stood  before  the  south  front  of  Arnheim  Castle, 
which  was  a  much  larger  building  than  he  had  conceived,  either 
from  Rudolph's  description  or  from  the  distant  view.  It  had 
been  erected  at  many  different  periods,  and  a  considerable  part 
of  the  edifice  was  less  in  the  strict  Gothic  than  in  what  has 
been  termed  the  Saracenic  style,  in  which  the  imagination  of 
the  architect  is  more  florid  than  that  which  is  usually  indulged 
in  the  North  —  rich  in  minarets,  cupolas,  and  similar  approxi- 
mations to  Oriental  structures.  This  singular  building  bore  a 
general  appearance  of  desolation  and  desertion,  but  Rudolph 
had  been  misinformed  when  he  declared  that  it  had  become 
ruinous.  On  the  contrary,  it  had  been  maintained  with  con- 
siderable care  ;  and  when  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Emperor, 
although  no  garrison  was  maintained  within  its  precincts,  care 
was  taken  to  keep  the  building  in  repair ;  and  though  the 
prejudices  of  the  country  people  prevented  any  one  from  pass- 
ing the  night  within  the  fearful  walls,  yet  it  was  regularly 
visited  from  time  to  time  by  a  person  having  commission  from 
the  Imperial  Chancery  to  that  efibct.  The  occupation  of  the 
domain  around  the  castle  was  a  valuable  compensation  for  this 
official  person's  labour,  and  he  took  care  not  to  endanger  the 
loss  of  it  by  neglecting  his  duty.  Of  late  this  officer  had  been 
withdrawn,  and  now  it  appeared  that  the  young  baroness  of 
Arnheim  had  found  refuge  in  the  deserted  towers  of  her 
ancestors. 

The  Swiss  damsel  did  not  leave  the  youthful  traveller  time 
to  study  particularly  the  exterior  of  the  castle,  or  to  construe 
the  meaning  of  emblems  and  mottoes,  seemingly  of  an  Oriental 
character,  with  which  the  outside  was  inscribed,  and  which 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  269 

expressed  in  various  modes,  more  or  less  directly,  the  attach- 
ment of  the  builders  of  this  extensive  pile  to  the  learning  of 
the  Eastern  sages.  Ere  he  had  time  to  take  more  than  a 
general  survey  of  the  place,  the  voice  of  the  Swiss  maiden 
called  him  to  an  angle  of  the  wall  in  which  there  was  a  pro- 
jection, from  whence  a  long  plank  extended  over  a  dry 
moat,  and  was  connected  with  a  window  in  which  Annette 
was  standing. 

'  You  have  forgotten  your  Swiss  lessons  abeady,'  said  she, 
observing  that  Arthur  went  rather  timidly  about  crossing  the 
temporary  and  precarious  drawbridge. 

The  reflection  that  Anne,  her  mistress,  might  make  the 
same  observation  recalled  the  young  traveller  to  the  necessary 
degree  of  composure.  He  passed  over  the  plank  with  the  same 
sang  froid  with  which  he  had  learned  to  brave  the  far  more 
terrific  bridge  beneath  the  ruinous  Castle  of  Geierstein.  He 
had  no  sooner  entered  the  window  than  Annette,  taking  off  her 
mask,  bade  him  welcome  to  Germany,  and  to  old  friends  with 
new  names. 

*Anne  of  Geierstein,'  she  said,  *is  no  more;  but  you  will 
presently  see  the  Lady  Baroness  of  Amheim,  who  is  extremely 
like  her ;  and  I,  who  was  Annette  Veilchen  in  Switzerland,  the 
servant  to  a  damsel  who  was  not  esteemed  much  greater  than 
myself,  am  now  the  young  baroness's  waiting- woman,  and  make 
everybody  of  less  quality  stand  back' 

'  If,  in  such  circumstances,'  said  young  Philipson,  '  you  have 
the  influence  due  to  your  consequence,  let  me  beseech  of  you  to 
tell  the  baroness,  since  we  must  now  call  her  so,  that  my  present 
intrusion  on  her  is  occasioned  by  my  ignorance.' 

'  Away  —  away,'  said  the  girl,  laughing,  '  I  know  better  what 
to  say  in  your  behalf.  You  are  not  the  first  [poor  man  and 
pedlar  that  has  got  the  graces  of  a  great  lady ;  but  I  warrant 
you  it  was  not  by  making  humble  apologies,  and  talking  of 
unintentional  intrusion.  I  will  tell  her  of  love,  which  all  the 
Rhine  cannot  quench,  and  which  has  driven  you  hither,  leaving 
you  no  other  choice  than  to  come  or  to  perish  ! ' 

'  Nay,  but,  Annette  —  Annette ' 

*  Fie  on  you  for  a  fool  —  make  a  shorter  name  of  it :  cry 
"  Anne  — Anne  !  "  and  there  will  be  more  prospect  of  your  being 
answered.' 

So  saying,  the  wild  girl  ran  out  of  the  room,  delighted,  as 
a  mountaineer  of  her  description  was  likely  to  be,  with  the 
thought  of  having  done  as  she  would  desire  to  be  done  by,  in 


270  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

her  benevolent  exertions  to  bring  two  lovers  together,  when  on 
the  eve  of  inevitable  separation. 

In  this  self-approving  disposition,  Annette  sped  up  a  narrow 
turnpike-stair  to  a  closet,  or  dressing-room,  where  her  young 
mistress  was  seated,  and  exclaimed,  with  open  mouth  —  ^  Anne 

of  Gei 1  mean,  my  lady  baroness,  they  are  come  —  they 

are  come ! ' 

'  The  Philipsons  ? '  said  Anne,  almost  breathless  as  she  asked 
the  question. 

*  Yes  —  no,'  answered  the  girl ;  *  that  is,  yes,  for  the  best  of 
them  is  come,  and  that  is  Armur.' 

*  What  meanest  thou,  girl  ?  Is  not  Signior  Philipson,  the 
father,  along  with  his  son  1 ' 

'  Not  he,  indeed,'  answered  Veilchen,  '  nor  did  I  ever  think 
of  asking  about  him.  He  was  no  friend  of  mine,  nor  of  any  one 
else,  save  the  old  Landamman ;  and  well  met  they  were  for  a 
couple  of  wiseacres,  with  eternal  proverbs  in  their  mouths  and 
care  upon  their  brows.' 

*  Unkind,  inconsiderate  girl,  what  hast  thou  done  ? '  said 
Anne  of  Geierstein.  '  Did  I  not  warn  and  charge  thee  to  bring 
them  both  hither,  and  you  have  brought  the  young  man  alone 
to  a  place  where  we  are  nearly  in  solitude  ?  What  will  he  — 
what  can  he  think  of  me  ? ' 

'  Why,  what  should  I  have  done  ? '  said  Annette,  remaining 
firm  in  her  argument.  *  He  was  alone,  and  should  I  have  sent 
him  down  to  the  dorff  to  be  murdered  by  the  Rhinegrave's 
lanzknechts  1  All  is  fish,  I  trow,  that  comes  to  their  net ;  and 
how  is  he  to  get  through  this  country,  so  beset  with  wandering 
soldiers,  robber  barons  —  I  beg  your  ladyship's  pardon  —  and 
roguish  Italians,  flocking  to  the  Duke  of  Burgundy's  standard 
—  not  to  mention  the  greatest  terror  of  aU,  that  is  never  in  one 
shape  or  other  absent  from  one's  eye  or  thought  1 ' 

'Hush  —  hush,  girl !  add  not  utter  madness  to  the  excess  of 
folly ;  but  let  us  think  what  is  to  be  done.  For  our  sake,  for 
his  own,  this  unfortunate  young  man  must  leave  this  castle 
instantly.' 

'  You  must  take  the  message  yourself  then,  Anne  —  I  beg 

gardon,  most  noble  baroness ;  it  may  be  very  fit  for  a  lady  of 
igh  birth  to  send  such  a  message,  which,  indeed,  I  have  heard 
the  minnesingers  tell  in  their  romances ;  but  I  am  sure  it  is 
not  a  meet  one  for  me,  or  any  frank-hearted  Swiss  girl,  to 
carry.  No  more  foolery;  but  remember,  if  you  were  born 
Baroness  of  Arnheim,  you  have  been  bred  and  brought  up  in 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  ^71 

the  bosom  of  the  Swiss  hills,  and  should  conduct  yourself  like 
an  honest  and  well-meaning  damsel/ 

'And  in  what  does  your  wisdom  reprehend  my  folly,  good 
Mademoiselle  Annette  ? '  replied  the  baroness. 

*  Ay,  marry !  now  our  noble  blood  stirs  in  our  veins.  But 
remember,  gentle  my  lady,  that  it  was  a  bargain  between  us, 
when  I  left  yonder  noble  mountains,  and  the  free  air  that  blows 
over  them,  to  coop  myself  up  in  this  land  of  prisons  and  slaves, 
that  I  should  speak  my  mind  to  you  as  freely  as  I  did  when 
our  heads  lay  on  the  same  pillow.' 

'Speak,  then,'  said  Anne,  studiously  averting  her  face  as 
she  prepared  to  listen ;  '  but  beware  that  you  say  nothing 
which  it  is  unfit  for  me  to  hear.' 

'  I  will  speak  nature  and  common  sense  ;  and  if  your  noble 
ears  are  not  made  fit  to  hear  and  understand  these,  the  fault 
lies  in  them,  and  not  in  my  tongue.  Look  you,  you  have  saved 
this  youth  from  two  great  dangers  —  one  at  the  earth-shoot  at 
Geierstein,  the  other  this  very  day,  when  his  life  was  beset.  A 
handsome  young  man  he  is,  well  spoken,  and  well  qualified  to 
gain  deservedly  a  lady's  favour.  Before  you  saw  him,  the 
Swiss  youth  were  at  least  not  odious  to  you.  You  danced  with 
them,  you  jested  with  them,  you  were  the  general  object  of 
their  admiration ;  and,  as  you  well  know,  you  might  have  had 
your  choice  through  the  canton.  Why,  I  think  it  possible  a 
little  urgency  might  have  brought  you  to  think  of  Rudolph 
Donnerhugel  as  your  mate.' 

'  Never,  wench  —  never ! '  exclaimed  Anne. 

'Be  not  so  very  positive,  my  lady.  Had  he  reconmiended 
himself  to  the  uncle  in  the  first  place,  I  think,  in  my  poor 
sentiment,  he  might  at  some  lucky  moment  have  carried  the 
niece.  But  since  we  have  known  this  young  Englishman,  it 
has  been  little  less  than  contemning,  despising,  and  something 
like  hating,  all  the  men  whom  you  could  endure  well  enough 
before.' 

'Well  —  well,'  said  Anne,  '  I  will  detest  and  hate  thee  more 
than  any  of  them,  unless  you  bring  your  matters  to  an  end.' 

'  Softly,  noble  lady,  fair  and  easy  go  far.  All  this  argues 
you  love  the  young  man,  and  let  those  say  that  you  are  wrong 
who  think  there  is  anything  wonderful  in  the  matter.  There 
is  much  to  justify  you,  and  nothing  that  I  know  against  it.' 

'  What,  foolish  girl !  Remember  my  birth  forbids  me  to  love 
a  mean  man,  my  condition  to  love  a  poor  man,  my  father's 
commands  to  love  one  whose  addresses  are  without  his  consent ; 


272  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

above  all,  my  maidenly  pride  forbids  me  fixing  my  affections 
on  one  who  cares  not  for  me  —  nay,  perhaps,  is  prejudiced 
against  me  by  appearances.' 

'Here  is  a  fine  homily!'  said  Annette;  'but  I  can  clear 
every  point  of  it  as  easily  as  Father  Francis  does  his  text  in  a 
holiday  sermon.  Your  birth  is  a  silly  dream,  which  you  have 
only  learned  to  value  within  these  two  or  three  days,  when, 
having  come  to  German  soil,  some  of  the  old  German  weed, 
usually  called  family  pride,  has  begun  to  germinate  in  your 
heart.  Think  of  such  folly  as  you  thought  when  you  lived  at 
Geierstein  —  that  is,  during  all  the  rational  part  of  your  life  — 
and  this  great  terrible  prejudice  will  sink  into  nothing.  By  con- 
dition, I  conceive  you  mean  estate.  But  Philipson's  father, 
who  is  the  most  free-hearted  of  men,  will  surely  give  his  son  as 
many  zecchins  as  will  stock  a  mountain  farm.  You  have  fire- 
wood for  the  cutting,  and  land  for  the  occupying,  since  you  are 
surely  entitled  to  part  of  Geierstein,  and  gladly  will  your  uncle 
put  you  in  possession  of  it.  You  can  manage  the  dairy,  Arthur 
can  shoot,  hunt,  fish,  plough,  harrow,  and  reap.' 

Anne  of  Geierstein  shook  her  head,  as  if  she  greatly  doubted 
her  lover's  skill  in  the  last  of  the  accomplishments  enumerated. 

'Well  —  well,  he  can  learn,  then,'  said  Annette  Veilchen; 
'and  you  will  only  live  the  harder  the  first  year  or  so. 
Besides,  Sigismund  Biederman  will  aid  him  willingly,  and  he 
is  a  very  horse  at  labour ;  and  I  know  another  besides  who  is 
a  friend ' 

'  Of  thine  own,  I  warrant,'  quoth  the  young  baroness. 

'  Marry,  it  is  my  poor  friend,  Martin  Sprenger ;  and  I  '11 
never  be  so  false-hearted  as  to  deny  my  bachelor.' 

'  Well  —  well,  but  what  is  to  be  the  end  of  all  this  1 '  said  the 
baroness,  impatiently. 

'  The  end  of  it,  in  my  opinion,'  said  Annette,  '  is  very  simple. 
Here  are  priests  and  prayer-books  within  a  mile ;  go  down  to 
the  parlour,  speak  your  mind  to  your  lover,  or  hear  him  speak 
his  mind  to  you ;  join  hands,  go  quietly  back  to  Geierstein  in  the 
character  of  man  and  wife,  and  get  everything  ready  to  receive 
your  uncle  on  his  return.  This  is  the  way  that  a  plain  Swiss 
wench  would  cut  off  the  romance  of  a  German  baroness ' 

'And  break  the  heart  of  her  father,'  said  the  young  lady, 
with  a  sigh. 

'  It  is  more  tough  than  you  are  aware  of,'  replied  Annette ; 
'  he  hath  not  lived  without  you  so  long,  but  that  he  will  be 
able  to  spare  you  for  the  rest  of  his  life,  a  great  deal  more  easily 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  273 

than  you,  with  all  your  newfangled  ideas  of  quality,  will  be 
able  to  endure  his  schemes  of  wealth  and  ambition,  which  will 
aim  at  making  you  the  wife  of  some  illustrious  count,  like  De 
Hagenbach,  whom  we  saw  not  long  since  make  such  an  edify- 
ing end,  to  the  great  example  of  all  robber-chivalry  upon  the 
Rhine.' 

*  Thy  plan  is  naught,  wench  —  a  childish  vision  of  a  girl  who 
never  knew  more  of  life  than  she  has  heard  told  over  her 
milking-pail.  Remember  that  my  uncle  entertains  the  highest 
ideas  of  family  discipline,  and  that  to  act  contrary  to  my  father's 
will  would  destroy  us  in  his  good  opinion.  Why  else  am  I  here  ? 
Wherefore  has  he  resigned  his  guardianship?  and  why  am  I 
obliged  to  change  the  habits  that  are  dear  to  me,  and  assume 
the  manners  of  a  people  that  are  strange,  and  therefore  un- 
pleasing  to  me  1 ' 

*Your  uncle,'  said  Annette,  firmly,  *is  Landamman  of  the 
Canton  of  Unterwalden,  respects  its  freedom,  and  is  the  sworn 
protector  of  its  laws,  of  which,  when  you,  a  denizen  of  the  Con- 
federacy, claim  the  protection,  he  cannot  refuse  it  to  you.' 

'Even  then,'  said  the  young  baroness,  'I  should  forfeit  his 
good  opinion,  his  more  than  paternal  affection ;  but  it  is  needless 
to  dwell  upon  this.  Know  that,  although  I  could  have  loved 
the  young  man,  whom  I  will  not  deny  to  be  as  amiable  as 
your  partiality  paints  him  —  know '  —  she  hesitated  for  a  mo- 
ment — '  that  he  has  never  spoken  a  word  to  me  on  such  a 
subject  as  you,  without  knowing  either  his  sentiments  or  mine, 
would  intrude  on  my  consideration.' 

'  Is  it  possible  ? '  answered  Annette.  '  I  thought  —  I  believed, 
though  I  have  never  pressed  on  your  confidence — that  you  must 
—  attached  as  you  were  to  each  other  —  have  spoken  together, 
like  true  maid  and  true  bachelor,  before  now.  I  have  done 
wrong,  when  I  thought  to  do  for  the  best.  Is  it  possible  — 
such  things  have  been  heard  of  even  in  our  canton  —  is  it 
possible  he  can  have  harboured  so  unutterably  base  purposes 
as  that  Martin  of  Brisach,  who  made  love  to  Adela  of  the 
Sundgau,  enticed  her  to  foUy  —  the  thing,  though  almost  in- 
credible, is  true  —  fled  —  fled  from  the  country  and  boasted  of 
his  villainy,  till  her  cousin  Raymond  silenced  for  ever  his 
infamous  triumph,  by  beating  his  brains  out  with  his  club, 
even  in  the  very  street  of  the  villain's  native  town  ?  By  the 
Holy  Mother  of  Einsiedlen !  could  I  suspect  this  Englishman 
of  meditating  such  treason,  I  would  saw  the  plank  across  the 
moat  till  a  fly's  weight  would  break  it,  and  it  should  be  at  six 
VOL.  xsiii — 18 


274  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

fathom  deep  that  he  should  abye  the  perfidy  which  dared  to  medi- 
tate dishonour  against  an  adopted  daughter  of  Switzerland  ! ' 

As  Annette  Veilchen  spoke,  all  the  fire  of  her  mountain 
courage  flashed  from  her  eyes,  and  she  listened  reluctantly 
while  Anne  of  Geierstein  endeavoured  to  obliterate  the  danger- 
ous impression  which  her  former  words  had  impressed  on  her 
simple  but  faithful  attendant. 

'On  my  word,'  she  said  — *  on  my  soul,  you  do  Arthur 
Philipson  injustice  —  foul  injustice,  in  intimating  such  a  sus- 
picion. His  conduct  towards  me  has  ever  been  upright  and 
honourable  :  a  friend  to  a  firiend  —  a  brother  to  a  sister  —  could 
not,  in  all  he  has  done  and  said,  have  been  more  respectful, 
more  anxiously  affectionate,  more  undeviatingly  candid.  In  our 
frequent  interviews  and  intercourse  he  has  indeed  seemed 
very  kind  —  very  attached.  But  had  I  been  disposed  —  at  times 
I  may  have  been  too  much  so  —  to  listen  to  nim  with  endur- 
ance,' —  the  young  lady  here  put  her  hand  on  her  forehead,  but 
the  tears  streamed  through  her  slender  fingers  —  *  he  has  never 
spoken  of  any  love  —  any  preference ;  if  he  indeed  entertains 
any,  some  obstacle,  insurmountable  on  his  part,  has  interfered 
to  prevent  him.' 

'  Obstacle  ! '  replied  the  Swiss  damsel.  *  Ay,  doubtless  — 
some  childish  bashfulness  —  some  foolish  idea  about  your  birth 
being  so  high  above  his  own  —  some  dream  of  modesty  pushed 
to  extremity,  which  considers  as  impenetrable  the  ice  of  a 
spring  fi*ost.  This  delusion  may  be  broken  by  a  moment's 
encouragement,  and  I  will  take  the  task  on  myself,  to  spare 
your  blushes,  my  dearest  Anne.' 

'No  —  no  —  for  Heaven's  sake,  no,  Veilchen ! '  answered  the 
baroness,  to  whom  Annette  had  so  long  been  a  companion  and 
confidante,  rather  than  a  domestic.  '  You  cannot  anticipate  the 
nature  of  the  obstacl  es  which  may  prevent  his  thinking  on  what 
you  are  so  desirous  to  promote.  Hear  me.  My  early  education, 
and  the  instructions  of  my  kind  uncle,  have  taught  me  to  know 
something  more  of  foreigners  and  their  fashions  than  I  ever 
could  have  learned  in  our  happy  retirement  of  Geierstein ;  I  am 
wellnigh  convinced  that  these  Philipsons  are  of  rank,  as  they 
are  of  manners  and  bearing,  far  superior  to  the  occupation  which 
they  appear  to  hold.  The  father  is  a  man  of  deep  observation, 
of  nigh  thoughts  and  pretension,  and  lavish  of  gifts,  far  beyond 
what  consists  with  the  utmost  liberality  of  a  trader.' 

'  That  is  true,'  said  Annette ;  '  I  will  say  for  myself,  that  the 
silver  chain  he  gave  me  weighs  against  ten  silver  crowns,  and 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  275 

the  cross  which  Arthur  added  to  it,  the  day  after  the  long  ride 
we  had  together  up  towards  Mons  Pilatre,  is  worth,  they  tell 
me,  as  much  more.  There  is  not  the  like  of  it  in  the  cantons. 
Well,  what  then?  They  are  rich,  so  are  you.  So  much  the 
better.' 

*  Alas !  Annette,  they  are  not  only  rich,  but  noble.  I  am 
persuaded  of  this ;  for  I  have  observed  often  that  even  the 
father  retreated,  with  an  air  of  quiet  and  dignified  contempt, 
from  discussions  with  Donnerhugel  and  others,  who,  in  our 
plain  way,  wished  to  fasten  a  dispute  upon  him.  And  when  a 
rude  observation  or  blunt  pleasantry  was  pointed  at  the  son, 
his  eyes  flashed,  his  cheek  coloured,  and  it  was  only  a  glance 
from  his  father  which  induced  him  to  repress  the  retort  of  no 
friendly  character  which  rose  to  his  lips.' 

*  You  have  been  a  close  observer,'  said  Annette.  'All  this 
may  be  true,  but  I  noted  it  not.  But  what  then,  I  say  once 
more  ?  If  Arthur  has  some  fine  noble  name  in  his  own  country, 
are  not  you  yourself  Baroness  of  Arnheim  1  And  I  will  frankly 
allow  it  as  something  of  worth,  if  it  smooths  the  way  to  a 
match  where  I  think  you  must  look  for  happiness.  I  hope  so, 
else  I  am  sure  it  should  have  no  encouragement  from  me.' 

*  I  do  believe  so,  my  faithful  Veilchen ;  but,  alas !  how  can 
you,  in  the  state  of  natural  freedom  in  which  you  have  been 
bred,  know,  or  even  dream,  of  the  various  restraints  which  this 
gilded  or  golden  chain  of  rank  and  nobility  hangs  upon  those 
whom  it  fetters  and  encumbers,  I  fear,  as  much  as  it  decorates  ? 
In  every  country  the  distinction  of  rank  binds  men  to  certain 
duties.  It  may  carry  with  it  restrictions,  which  may  prevent 
alliances  in  foreign  countries  ;  it  often  may  prevent  them  from 
consulting  their  inclinations  when  they  wed  in  their  own.  It 
leads  to  alliances  in  which  the  heart  is  never  consulted,  to 
treaties  of  marriage  which  are  often  formed  when  the  parties 
are  in  the  cradle,  or  in  leading-strings,  but  which  are  not  the 
less  binding  on  them  in  honour  and  faith.  Such  may  exist  in 
the  present  case.  These  alliances  are  often  blended  and  mixed 
up  with  state  policy ;  and  if  the  interest  of  England,  or  what 
he  deems  such,  should  have  occasioned  the  elder  Philipson  to 
form  such  an  engagement,  Arthur  would  break  his  own  heart 
—  the  heart  of  any  one  else  —  rather  than  make  false  his  father's 
word.' 

'The  more  shame  to  them  that  formed  such  an  engage- 
ment ! '  said  Annette.  '  WeU,  they  talk  of  England  being  a 
free  country;  but  if  they  can  bar  young  men  and  women  of 


276  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

the  natural  privilege  to  call  their  hands  and  hearts  their  own, 
I  would  as  soon  be  a  German  serf.  Well,  lady,  you  are  wise, 
and  I  am  ignorant.  But  what  is  to  be  done  ?  I  have  brought 
this  young  man  here,  expecting,  God  knows,  a  happier  issue  to 
your  meeting.  But  it  is  clear  you  cannot  marry  him  without 
his  asking  you.  Now,  although  I  confess  that,  if  I  could  think 
him  willing  to  forfeit  the  hand  of  the  fairest  maid  of  the 
cantons,  either  from  want  of  manly  courage  to  ask  it  or  from 
regard  to  some  ridiculous  engagement  formed  betwixt  his  father 
and  some  other  nobleman  of  their  island  of  noblemen,  I  would 
not  in  either  case  grudge  him  a  ducking  in  the  moat ;  yet  it 
is  another  question  whether  we  should  send  him  down  to  be 
murdered  among  those  cut-throats  of  the  Rhinegrave;  and 
unless  we  do  so,  I  know  not  how  to  get  rid  of  him.' 

'  Then  let  the  boy  William  give  attendance  on  him  here, 
and  do  you  see  to  his  accommodation.  It  is  best  we  do  not 
meet.' 

*  I  will,'  said  Annette ;  '  yet  what  am  I  to  say  for  you  ? 
Unhappily,  I  let  him  know  that  you  were  here.' 

'  Alas,  imprudent  girl !  Yet  why  should  I  blame  thee,'  said 
Anne  of  Geierstein,  '  when  the  imprudence  has  been  so  great 
on  my  own  side  ?  It  is  myself  who,  suffering  my  imagination 
to  rest  too  long  upon  this  young  man  and  his  merits,  have  led 
me  into  this  entanglement.  But  I  wiU  show  thee  that  I  can 
overcome  this  folly,  and  I  will  not  seek  in  my  own  error  a 
cause  for  evading  the  duties  of  hospitality.  Go,  Veilchen,  get 
some  refreshment  ready.  Thou  shalt  sup  with  us,  and  thou 
must  not  leave  us.  Thou  shalt  see  me  behave  as  becomes 
both  a  German  lady  and  a  Swiss  maiden.  Get  me  first  a 
candle,  however,  my  girl,  for  I  must  wash  these  tell-tales,  my 
eyes,  and  arrange  my  dress.' 

To  Annette  this  whole  explanation  had  been  one  scene  of 
astonishment,  for,  in  the  simple  ideas  of  love  and  courtship  in 
which  she  had  been  brought  up  amid  the  Swiss  mountains,  she 
had  expected  that  the  two  lovers  would  have  taken  the  first 
opportunity  of  the  absence  of  their  natural  guardians,  and  have 
united  themselves  for  ever ;  and  she  had  even  arranged  a  little 
secondary  plot,  in  which  she  herself  and  Martin  Sprenger,  her 
faithful  bachelor,  were  to  reside  with  the  young  couple  as 
friends  and  dependants.  Silenced,  therefore,  but  not  satisfied, 
by  the  objections  of  her  young  mistress,  the  zealous  Annette 
retreated,  murmuring  to  herself — '  That  little  hint  about  her 
dress  is  the  only  natural  and  sensible  word  she  has  said  in  my 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  277 

hearing.  Please  God,  I  will  return  and  help  her  in  the  twin- 
kling of  an  eye.  That  dressing  my  mistress  is  the  only  part  of 
a  waiting-lady's  life  that  I  have  the  least  fancy  for :  it  seems 
so  natural  for  one  pretty  maiden  to  set  off  another  —  in  faith 
we  are  but  learning  to  dress  ourselves  at  another  time.' 

And  with  this  sage  remark  Annette  Veilchen  tripped  down- 
stairs. 


CHAPTER  XXII 


Tell  me  not  of  it  —  I  could  ne'er  abide 
The  mummery  of  all  that  forced  civility. 
*  Pray,  seat  yourself,  my  lord,'     With  cringing  hams 
The  speech  is  spoken,  and,  with  bended  knee, 
Heard  by  the  smiling  courtier.     *  Before  you,  sir  ? 
It  must  be  on  the  earth  then.'     Hang  it  all ! 
The  pride  which  cloaks  itself  in  such  poor  fashion 
Is  scarcely  fit  to  swell  a  beggar's  bosom. 

Old  Play, 

UPSTAIRS  and  downstairs  tripped  Annette  Veilchen, 
the  soul  of  all  that  was  going  on  in  the  only  habitable 
corner  of  the  huge  castle  of  Amheim.  She  was  equal 
to  every  kind  of  service,  and  therefore  popped  her  head  into  the 
stable  to  be  sure  that  William  attended  properly  to  Arthur's 
horse,  looked  into  the  kitchen  to  see  that  the  old  cook,  Marthon, 
roasted  the  partridges  in  due  time  (an  interference  for  which 
she  received  little  thanks),  rummaged  out  a  flask  or  two  of 
Rhine  wine  from  the  huge  Dom  Daniel  of  a  cellar,  and,  finally, 
just  peeped  into  the  parlour  to  see  how  Arthur  was  looking ; 
when,  having  the  satisfaction  to  see  he  had  in  the  best  manner 
he  could  sedulously  arranged  his  person,  she  assured  him  that 
he  should  shortly  see  her  mistress,  who  was  rather  indisposed, 
yet  could  not  refrain  from  coming  down  to  see  so  valued  an 
acquaintance. 

Arthur  blushed  when  she  spoke  thus,  and  seemed  so  hand- 
some in  the  waiting-maid's  eye,  that  she  could  not  help  saying 
to  herself,  as  she  went  to  her  young  lady's  room  —  *Well,  if 
true  love  cannot  manage  to  bring  that  couple  together,  in  spite 
of  all  the  obstacles  that  they  stand  boggling  at,  I  will  never 
believe  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  true  love  in  the  world,  let 
Martin  Sprenger  say  what  he  will,  and  swear  to  it  on  the 
Gospels.' 

When  she  reached  the  young  baroness's  apartment,  she  found, 
to  her  surprise,  that,  instead  of  having  put  on  what  finery 
she  possessed,  that  young  lady's  choice  had  preferred  the  same 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  279 

simple  kirtle  which  she  had  worn  during  the  first  day  that  Arthur 
had  dined  at  Geierstein.  Annette  looked  at  first  puzzled  and 
doubtfiil,  then  suddenly  recognised  the  good  taste  which  had 
dictated  the  attire,  and  exclaimed,  *  You  are  right  —  you  are 
right :  it  is  best  to  meet  him  as  a  free-hearted  Swiss  maiden.' 

Anne  also  smiled  as  she  replied,  '  But,  at  the  same  time,  in 
the  walls  of  Amheim,  I  must  appear  in  some  respect  as  the 
daughter  of  my  father.  Here,  girl,  aid  me  to  put  this  gem 
upon  the  riband  which  binds  my  hair.' 

It  was  an  aigrette,  or  plume,  composed  of  two  feathers  of 
a  vulture,  fastened  together  by  an  opal,  which  changed  to  the 
changing  light  with  a  variability  which  enchanted  the  Swiss 
damsel,  who  had  never  seen  anything  resembling  it  in  her  life. 

'Now,  Baroness  Anne,'  said  she,  'if  that  pretty  thing  be 
really  worn  as  a  sign  of  your  rank,  it  is  the  only  thing  belong- 
ing to  your  dignity  that  I  should  ever  think  of  coveting ;  for  it 
doth  shimmer  and  change  colour  after  a  most  wonderful  fashion, 
even  something  like  one's  own  cheek  when  one  is  fluttered.' 

'  AIeis,  Annette  ! '  said  the  baroness,  passing  her  hand  across 
her  eyes,  '  of  all  the  gauds  which  the  females  of  my  house  have 
owned,  this  perhaps  hath  been  the  most  fatal  to  its  possessors.' 

*  And  why  then  wear  it  ? '  said  Annette.  '  Why  wear  it  now, 
of  all  days  in  the  year  1 ' 

*  Because  it  best  reminds  me  of  my  duty  to  my  father  and 
family.  And  now,  girl,  look  thou  sit  with  us  at  table,  and 
leave  not  the  apartment ;  and  see  thou  fly  not  to  and  fro  to 
help  thyself  or  others  with  anything  on  the  board,  but  remain 
quiet  and  seated  till  William  helps  you  to  what  you  have 
occasion  for.' 

'Well,  that  is  a  gentle  fashion  which  I  like  well  enough,' 
said  Annette,  '  and  William  serves  us  so  debonairly,  that  it  is  a 
joy  to  see  him ;  yet,  ever  and  anon,  I  feel  as  I  were  not  Annette 
Veilchen  herself,  but  only  Annette  Veilchen's  picture,  since  I 
can  neither  rise,  sit  down,  run  about,  or  stand  still  without 
breaking  some  rule  of  courtly  breeding.  It  is  not  so,  I  dare- 
say, with  you,  who  are  always  mannerly.' 

'Less  courtly  than  thou  seemest  to  think,'  said  the  high- 
born maiden ;  '  but  I  feel  the  restraint  more  on  the  greensward, 
and  under  heaven's  free  air,  than  when  I  undergo  it  closed 
within  the  walls  of  an  apartment.' 

'  Ah,  true  —  the  dancing,'  said  Annette ;  '  that  was  something 
to  be  sorry  for  indeed.' 

'  But  most  am  I  sorry,  Annette,  that  I  cannot  tell  whether  I 


280  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

act  precisely  right  or  wrong  in  seeing  this  young  man,  though 
it  must  be  for  the  last  time.  "Were  my  father  to  arrive  ?  Were 
Ital  Schreckenwald  to  return ' 

*  Your  father  is  too  deeply  engaged  on  some  of  his  dark  and 
mystic  errands,'  said  the  flippant  Swiss  — '  sailed  to  the  moun- 
tains of  the  Brockenberg,  where  witches  hold  their  sabbath,  or 
gone  on  a  hunting-party  with  the  Wild  Huntsman.' 

'  Fie,  Annette,  how  dare  you  talk  thus  of  my  father  1 ' 
*Wby,  I  know  little  of  him  personally,'  said  the  damsel, 

*  and  you  yourself  do  not  know  much  more.     And  how  should 

that  be  false  which  all  men  say  is  true  1 ' 

*  Why,  fool,  what  do  they  say  1 ' 

*Why,  that  the  count  is  a  wizard,  that  your  grandmother 
was  a  will-of-wisp,  and  old  Ital  Schreckenwald  a  born  devil  in- 
carnate ;  and  there  is  some  truth  in  that,  whatever  comes  of 
the  rest.' 

*  Where  is  her 

'Gone  down  to  spend  the  night  in  the  village,  to  see  the 
Rhinegrave's  men  quartered,  and  keep  them  in  some  order,  if 
possible ;  for  the  soldiers  are  disappointed  of  pay  which  they 
had  been  promised ;  and  when  this  happens,  nothing  resembles 
a  lanzknecht  except  a  chafed  bear.' 

'  Go  we  down  then,  girl ;  it  is  perhaps  the  last  night  which 
we  may  spend  for  years  with  a  certain  degree  of  freedom.' 

I  will  not  pretend  to  describe  the  marked  embarrassment  with 
which  Arthur  Philipson  and  Anne  of  Geierstein  met :  neither 
lifted  their  eyes,  neither  spoke  intelligibly,  as  they  greeted 
each  other,  and  the  maiden  herself  did  not  blush  more  deeply 
than  her  modest  visitor ;  while  the  good-humoured  Swiss  girl, 
whose  ideas  of  love  partook  of  the  freedom  of  a  more  Arcadian 
country  and  its  customs,  looked  on  with  eyebrows  a  little 
arched,  much  in  wonder,  and  a  little  in  contempt,  at  a  couple 
who,  as  she  might  think,  acted  with  such  unnatural  and  con- 
strained reserve.  Deep  was  the  reverence  and  the  blush  with 
which  Arthur  offered  his  hand  to  the  young  lady,  and  her 
acceptance  of  the  courtesy  had  the  same  character  of  extreme 
bashfulness,  agitation,  and  embarrassment.  In  short,  though 
little  or  nothing  intelligible  passed  between  this  very  handsome 
and  interesting  couple,  the  interview  itself  did  not  on  that 
account  lose  any  interest.  Arthur  handed  the  maiden,  as  was 
the  duty  of  a  gallant  of  the  day,  into  the  next  room,  where 
their  repast  was  prepared;  and  Annette,  who  watched  with 
singular  attention  everything  which  occurred,  felt  with  astonish- 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  ^1 

ment  that  the  forms  and  ceremonies  of  the  higher  orders  of 
society  had  such  an  influence,  even  over  her  fi-ee-born  mind, 
as  the  rites  of  the  Druids  over  that  of  the  Roman  general,  when 
he  said  — 

I  scorn  them,  yet  they  awe  me. 

*  What  can  have  changed  them  ? '  said  Annette.  *  When  at 
Geierstein,  they  looked  but  like  another  girl  and  bachelor,  only 
that  Anne  is  so  very  handsome ;  but  now  they  move  in  time 
and  manner  as  if  they  were  leading  a  stately  pavin,  and  behave 
to  each  other  with  as  much  formal  respect  as  if  he  were  Lan- 
damman  of  the  Unterwalden  and  she  the  first  lady  of  Berne. 
'T  is  all  very  fine,  doubtless,  but  it  is  not  the  way  that  Martin 
Sprenger  makes  love.' 

Apparently,  the  circumstances  in  which  each  of  the  young 
people  were  placed  recalled  to  them  the  habits  of  lofty,  and 
somewhat  formal,  courtesy  to  which  they  might  have  been 
accustomed  in  former  days;  and  while  the  baroness  felt  it 
necessary  to  observe  the  strictest  decorum,  in  order  to  qualify 
the  reception  of  Arthur  into  the  interior  of  her  retreat,  he,  on 
the  other  hand,  endeavoured  to  show,  by  the  profoundness  of 
his  respect,  that  he  was  incapable  of  misusing  the  kindness 
with  which  he  had  been  treated.  They  placed  themselves  at 
table,  scrupulously  observing  the  distance  which  might  become 
a  *  virtuous  gentleman  and  maid.'  The  youth  William  did  the 
service  of  the  entertainment  with  deftness  and  courtesy,  as  one 
well  accustomed  to  such  duty ;  and  Annette,  placing  herself 
between  them,  and  endeavouring,  as  closely  as  she  could,  to 
adhere  to  the  ceremonies  which  she  saw  them  observe,  made 
practice  of  the  civilities  which  were  expected  from  the  attendant 
of  a  baroness.  Various,  however,  were  the  errors  which  she 
committed.  Her  demeanour  in  general  was  that  of  a  grey- 
hound in  the  slips,  ready  to  start  up  every  moment ;  and  she 
was  only  withheld  by  the  recollection  that  she  was  to  ask  for 
that  which  she  had  far  more  mind  to  help  herself  to. 

Other  points  of  etiquette  were  transgressed  in  their  turn, 
after  the  repast  was  over  and  the  attendant  had  retired.  The 
waiting  damsel  often  mingled  too  unceremoniously  in  the  con- 
versation, and  could  not  help  calling  her  mistress  by  her  Chris- 
tian name  of  Anne,  and,  in  defiance  of  all  decorum,  addressed 
her,  as  well  as  Philipson,  with  the  pronoun  'thou,'  which  then, 
as  well  as  now,  was  a  dreadful  solecism  in  German  politeness. 
Her  blunders  were  so  fe,r  fortunate,  that,  by  furnishing  the 


282  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

young  lady  and  Arthur  with  a  topic  foreign  to  the  peculiarities 
of  their  own  situation,  they  enabled  them  to  withdraw  their 
attentions  from  its  embarrassments,  and  to  exchange  smiles  at 
poor  Annette's  expense.  She  was  not  long  of  perceiving  this, 
and  half  nettled,  half  availing  herself  of  the  apology  to  speak 
her  mind,  said,  with  considerable  spirit,  *  You  have  both 
been  very  merry,  forsooth,  at  my  expense,  and  all  because  I 
wished  rather  to  rise  and  seek  what  I  wanted  than  wait  till  the 
poor  fellow  who  was  kept  trotting  between  the  board  and 
beauffet  found  leisure  to  bring  it  to  me.  You  laugh  at  me  now, 
because  I  call  you  by  your  names,  as  they  were  given  to 
you  in  the  blessed  church  at  your  christening;  and  because 
I  say  to  you  "  thee  "  and  "  thou,"  addressing  my  Juncker  and 
my  Yungfrau  as  I  would  do  if  I  were  on  my  knees  praying  to 
Heaven.  But  for  all  your  new-world  fancies,  I  can  tell  you, 
you  are  but  a  couple  of  children,  who  do  not  know  your  own 
minds,  and  are  jesting  away  the  only  leisure  given  you  to  pro- 
vide for  your  own  happiness.  Nay,  frown  not,  my  sweet  Mistress 
Baroness ;  I  have  looked  at  Mount  Pilatre  too  often  to  fear  a 
gloomy  brow.' 

'  Peace,  Annette,'  said  her  mistress,  *or  quit  the  room.' 

'Were  I  not  more  your  friend  than  I  am  my  own,'  said  the 
headstrong  and  undaunted  Annette,  *  I  would  quit  the  room, 
and  the  castle  to  boot,  and  leave  you  to  hold  your  house  here 
with  your  amiable  seneschal,  Ital  Schreckenwald.' 

'  If  not  for  love,  yet  for  shame,  for  charity,  be  silent,  or  leave 
the  room.' 

*  Nay,'  said  Annette,  *  my  bolt  is  shot,  and  I  have  but  hinted 
at  what  all  upon  Geierstein  green  said,  the  night  when  the 
bow  of  Buttisholz  was  bended.     You  know  what  the  old  saw 


*  Peace  —  peace,  for  Heaven's  sake,  or  I  must  needs  fly ! '  said 
the  young  baroness. 

'Nay,  then,'  said  Annette,  considerably  changing  her  tone, 
as  if  afraid  that  her  mistress  should  actually  retire,  *if  you 
must  fly,  necessity  must  have  its  course.  I  know  no  one 
who  can  follow.  This  mistress  of  mine,  Siguier  Arthur,  would 
require  for  her  attendant,  not  a  homely  girl  of  flesh  and  blood 
like  myself,  but  a  waiting- woman  with  substance  composed  of 
gossamer,  and  breath  supplied  by  the  spirit  of  ether.  Would 
you  believe  it,  it  is  seriously  held  by  many  that  she  partakes 
of  the  race  of  spirits  of  the  elements,  which  makes  her  so  much 
more  bashful  than  maidens  of  this  everyday  world  1 ' 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  9SS 

Anne  ot  Geierstein  seemed  rather  glad  to  lead  away  the 
conversation  from  the  turn  which  her  wayward  maiden  had 
given  to  it,  and  to  turn  it  on  more  indifferent  subjects,  though 
these  were  still  personal  to  herself. 

'  Siguier  Arthur,'  she  said,  'thinks,  perhaps,  he  has  some  room 
to  nourish  some  such  strange  suspicion  as  your  heedless  folly 
expresses,  and  some  fools  believe,  both  in  Germany  and  Switzer- 
land. Confess,  Siguier  Arthur,  you  thought  strangely  of  me 
when  I  passed  your  guard  upon  the  bridge  of  Graffslust,  on 
the  night  last  past.' 

The  recollection  of  the  circumstances  which  had  so  greatly 
surprised  him  at  the  time  so  startled  Arthur,  that  it  was 
with  some  difficulty  he  commanded  himself,  so  as  to  attempt  an 
answer  at  all ;  and  what  he  did  say  on  the  occasion  was  broken 
and  unconnected. 

*  I  did  hear,  I  own  —  that  is,  Rudolph  Donnerhugel  reported. 
But  that  I  believed  that  you,  gentle  lady,  were  other  than  a 
Christian  maiden ' 

'Nay,  if  Rudolph  were  the  reporter,'  said  Annette,  'you 
would  hear  the  worst  of  my  lady  and  her  lineage,  that  is  certain. 
He  is  one  of  those  prudent  personages  who  depreciate  and  find 
fault  with  the  goods  he  has  thoughts  of  purchasing,  in  order  to 
deter  other  offerers.  Yes,  he  told  you  a  fine  goblin  story,  I 
warrant  you,  of  my  lady's  grandmother ;  and  truly,  it  so  hap- 
pened that  the  circumstances  of  the  case  gave,  I  daresay,  some 
colour  in  your  eyes  to ' 

'Not  so,  Annette,'  answered  Arthur;  'whatever  might  be 
«aid  of  your  lady  that  sounded  uncouth  and  strange  fell  to  the 
ground  as  incredible.' 

'Not  (juite  so  much  so,  I  fancy,'  interrupted  Annette,  with- 
out heeding  sign  or  frown.  '  I  strongly  suspect  I  should  have 
had  much  more  trouble  in  dragging  you  hither  to  this  castle 
had  you  known  you  were  approaching  the  haunt  of  the  Nymph 
of  the  Fire,  the  Salamander,  as  they  call  her,  not  to  mention 
the  shock  of  again  seeing  the  descendant  of  that  Maiden  of  the 
Fiery  Mantle.' 

'Peace,  once  more,  Annette,'  said  her  mistress;  'since  Fate 
has  occasioned  this  meeting,  let  us  not  neglect  the  opportunity 
to  disabuse  our  English  friend  of  the  absurd  report  he  has 
listened  to  with  doubt  and  wonder  perhaps,  but  not  with  abso- 
lute incredulity. 

'Siguier  Arthur  Philipson,'  she  proceeded,  'it  is  true  my 
grandfather,  by  the  mother's  side.  Baron  Herman  of  Arnheinij 


284  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

was  a  man  of  great  knowledge  in  abstruse  sciences.  He  was 
also  a  presiding  judge  of  a  tribunal  of  which  you  must  have 
heard,  called  the  Holy  Vehme.  One  night  a  stranger,  closely 
pursued  by  the  agents  of  that  body,  which  (crossing  herself)  it 
is  not  safe  even  to  name,  arrived  at  the  castle  and  craved  his 
protection,  and  the  rights  of  hospitality.  My  grandfather, 
finding  the  advance  which  the  stranger  had  made  to  the  rank 
of  adept,  gave  him  his  protection,  and  became  bail  to  deliver 
him  to  answer  the  charge  against  him  for  a  year  and  a  day, 
which  delay  he  was,  it  seems,  entitled  to  require  on  his  behalf. 
They  studied  together  during  that  term,  and  pushed  their  re- 
searches into  the  mysteries  of  nature  as  far,  in  all  probability, 
as  men  have  the  power  of  urging  them.  When  the  fatal  day 
drew  nigh  on  which  the  guest  must  part  from  his  host,  he  asked 
permission  to  bring  his  daughter  to  the  castle,  that  they  might 
exchange  a  last  farewell.  She  was  introduced  with  much  secrecy, 
and  after  some  days,  finding  that  her  father's  fate  was  so  uncer- 
tain, the  baron,  with  the  sage's  consent,  agreed  to  give  the 
forlorn  maiden  refuge  in  his  castle,  hoping  to  obtain  from  her 
some  additional  information  concerning  the  languages  and  the 
wisdom  of  the  East.  Dannischemend,  her  father,  left  this  castle, 
to  go  to  render  himself  up  to  the  Vehmegericht  at  Fulda. 
The  result  is  unknown ;  perhaps  he  was  saved  by  Baron  Arn- 
heim's  testimony,  perhaps  he  was  given  up  to  the  steel  and  the 
cord.     On  such  matters,  who  dare  speak  1 

'The  fair  Persian  became  the  wife  of  her  guardian  and 
protector.  Amid  many  excellencies,  she  had  one  peculiarity 
allied  to  imprudence.  She  availed  herself  of  her  foreign  dress 
and  manners,  as  well  as  of  a  beauty  which  was  said  to  have 
been  marvellous,  and  an  agility  seldom  equalled,  to  impose 
upon  and  terrify  the  ignorant  German  ladies,  who,  hearing  her 
speak  Persian  and  Arabic,  were  already  disposed  to  consider 
her  as  over-closely  connected  with  unlawful  arts.  She  was  of 
a  fanciful  and  imaginative  disposition,  and  delighted  to  place 
herself  in  such  colours  and  circumstances  as  might  confirm 
their  most  ridiculous  suspicions,  which  she  considered  only  as 
matter  of  sport.  There  was  no  end  to  the  stories  to  which  she 
gave  rise.  Her  first  appearance  in  the  castle  was  said  to  be 
highly  picturesque,  and  to  have  inferred  something  of  the 
marvellous.  With  the  levity  of  a  child,  she  had  some  childish 
passions,  and  while  she  encouraged  the  growth  and  circulation 
of  the  most  extraordinary  legends  amongst  some  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood, she  entered  into  disputes  with  persons  of  her  own 


■ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  285 

quality  concerning  rank  and  precedence,  on  which  the  ladies  of 
Westphalia  have  at  all  times  set  great  store.  This  cost  her 
her  Hfe ;  for,  on  the  morning  of  the  christening  of  my  poor 
mother,  the  Baroness  of  Arnheim  died  suddenly,  even  while  a 
splendid  company  was  assembled  in  the  castle  chapel  to  witness 
the  ceremony.  It  was  believed  that  she  died  of  poison,  admin- 
istered by  the  Baroness  Steinfeldt,  with  whom  she  was  engaged 
in  a  bitter  quarrel,  entered  into  chiefly  on  behalf  of  her  friend 
and  companion,  the  Countess  Waldstetten.' 

'  And  the  opal  gem  ?  —  and  the  sprinkling  with  water  1 '  said 
Arthur  Philipson. 

'  Ah  ! '  replied  the  young  baroness,  *  I  see  you  desire  to  hear 
the  real  truth  of  my  family  history,  of  which  you  have  yet 
learned  only  the  romantic  legend.  The  sprinkling  of  water 
was  necessarily  had  recourse  to  on  my  ancestress's  first  swoon. 
As  for  the  opal,  I  have  heard  that  it  did  indeed  grow  pale,  but 
only  because  it  is  said  to  be  the  nature  of  that  noble  gem,  on 
the  approach  of  poison.  Some  part  of  the  quarrel  with  the 
Baroness  Steinfeldt  was  about  the  right  of  the  Persian  maiden 
to  wear  this  stone,  which  an  ancestor  of  my  family  won  in 
battle  from  the  Soldan  of  Trebizond.  All  these  things  were 
confused  in  popular  tradition,  and  the  real  facts  turned  into  a 
fairy  tale.' 

'  But  you  have  said  nothing,'  suggested  Arthur  Philipson, 
*  on  —  on ' 

*  On  what  1 '  said  his  hostess. 

*  On  your  appearance  last  night.' 

*  Is  it  possible,'  said  she,  '  that  a  man  of  sense,  and  an  English- 
man, cannot  guess  at  the  explanation  which  I  have  to  give, 
though  not,  perhaps,  very  distinctly  1  My  father,  you  are  aware, 
has  been  a  busy  man  in  a  disturbed  country,  and  has  incurred 
the  hatred  of  many  powerful  persons.  He  is,  therefore,  obliged 
to  move  in  secret,  and  avoid  unnecessary  observation.  He  was, 
besides,  averse  to  meet  his  brother,  the  Landamman.  I  was 
therefore  told,  on  our  entering  Germany,  that  I  was  to  expect  a 
signal  where  and  when  to  join  him ;  the  token  was  to  be  a  small 
crucifix  of  bronze,  which  had  belonged  to  my  poor  mother. 
In  my  apartment  at  GrafFslust  I  found  the  token,  with  a  note 
from  my  father,  making  me  acquainted  with  a  secret  passage 
proper  to  such  places,  which,  though  it  had  the  appearance  of 
being  blocked  up,  was  in  fact  very  slightly  barricaded.  By  this 
I  was  instructed  to  pass  to  the  gate,  make  my  escape  into  the 
woods,  and  meet  my  father  at  a  place  appointed  there.' 


286  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

'  A  wild  and  perilous  adventure,'  said  Arthur. 

*  I  have  never  been  so  much  shocked,'  continued  the  maiden,. 
*as  at  receiving  this  summons,  compelling  me  to  steal  away 
from  my  kind  and  affectionate  uncle,  and  go  I  knew  not  whither. 
Yet  compliance  was  absolutely  necessary.  The  place  of  meeting 
was  plainly  pointed  out.  A  midnight  walk,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  protection,  was  to  me  a  trifle ;  but  the  precaution  of 
posting  sentinels  at  the  gate  might  have  interfered  with  my 
purpose,  had  I  not  mentioned  it  to  some  of  my  elder  cousins, 
the  Biedermans,  who  readily  agreed  to  let  me  pass  and  repass 
unquestioned.  But  you  know  my  cousins ;  honest  and  kind- 
hearted,  they  are  of  a  rude  way  of  thinking,  and  as  incapable 
of  feeling  a  generous  delicacy  as  —  some  other  persons.  (Here 
there  was  a  glance  towards  Annette  Veilchen.)  They  exacted 
from  me,  that  I  should  conceal  myself  and  my  purpose  from 
Sigismund ;  and,  as  they  are  always  making  sport  with  the 
simple  youth,  they  insisted  that  I  should  pass  him  in  such  a 
manner  as  might  induce  him  to  believe  that  I  was  a  spiritual 
apparition,  and  out  of  his  terrors  for  supernatural  beings  they 
expected  to  have  much  amusement.  I  was  obliged  to  secure 
their  connivance  at  my  escape  on  their  own  terms ;  and,  indeed, 
I  was  too  much  grieved  at  the  prospect  of  quitting  my  kind 
uncle  to  think  much  of  anything  else.  Yet  my  surprise  was 
considerable,  when,  contrary  to  expectation,  I  found  you  on  the 
bridge  as  sentinel,  instead  of  my  cousin  Sigismund.  Your  own 
ideas  I  ask  not  for.' 

*  They  were  those  of  a  fool,'  said  Arthur  — '  of  a  thrice-sodden 
fool.  Had  I  been  aught  else,  I  would  have  offered  my  escort. 
My  sword ' 

*  I  could  not  have  accepted  your  protection,'  said  Anne, 
calmly.  '  My  mission  was  in  every  respect  a  secret  one.  I 
met  my  father ;  some  intercourse  had  taken  place  betwixt  him 
and  Rudolph  Donnerhugel,  which  induced  him  to  alter  his 

Eurpose  of  carrying  me  away  with  him  last  night.  I  joined 
im,  however,  early  this  morning,  while  Annette  acted  for  a 
time  my  part  amongst  the  Swiss  pilgrims.  My  father  desired 
that  it  should  not  be  known  when  or  with  whom  I  left  my 
uncle  and  his  escort.  I  need  scarce  remind  you  that  I  saw 
you  in  the  dungeon.' 

'You  were  the  preserver  of  my  life,'  said  the  youth,  *the 
restorer  of  my  liberty.' 

*  Ask  me  not  the  reason  of  my  silence.  I  was  then  acting 
under  the  agency  of  others,  not  under  mine  own.    Your  escape 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  287 

was  effected  in  order  to  establish  a  communication  betwixt  the 
Swiss  without  the  fortress  and  the  soldiers  within.  After  the 
alarm  at  La  Ferette,  I  learned  from  Sigismund  Biederman  that 
a  party  of  banditti  were  pursuing  your  father  and  you,  with  a 
view  to  pillage  and  robbery.  My  father  had  furnished  me  with 
the  means  of  changing  Anne  of  Geierstein  into  a  German 
maiden  of  quality.  I  set  out  instantly,  and  glad  I  am  to  have 
given  you  a  hint  which  might  free  you  from  danger.' 

'But  my  father  1 '  said  Arthur. 

'  I  have  every  reason  to  hope  he  is  well  and  safe,'  answered 
the  young  lady.  '  More  than  I  were  eager  to  protect  both  you 
and  him  —  poor  Sigismund  amongst  the  first.  And  now,  my 
friend,  these  mysteries  explained,  it  is  time  we  part,  and  for 
ever.' 

*  Part,  and  for  ever ! '  repeated  the  youth,  in  a  voice  like  a 
dying  echo. 

*  It  is  our  fate,'  said  the  maiden.  '  I  appeal  to  you  if  it  is 
not  your  duty  —  I  tell  you  it  is  mine.  You  will  depart  with 
early  dawn  to  Strasburg  —  and  —  and  — we  never  meet  again.' 

With  an  ardour  of  passion  which  he  could  not  repress, 
Arthur  Philipson  threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  maiden, 
whose  faltering  tone  had  clearly  expressed  that  she  felt  deeply 
in  uttering  the  words.  She  looked  round  for  Annette,  but 
Annette  had  disappeared  at  this  most  critical  moment;  and 
her  mistress  for  a  second  or  two  was  not  perhaps  sorry  for  her 
absence. 

*  Rise,'  she  said,  '  Arthur  —  rise.  You  must  not  give  way  to 
feelings  that  might  be  fatal  to  yourself  and  me.' 

*  Hear  me,  lady,  before  I  bid  you  adieu,  and  for  ever  :  the 
word  of  a  criminal  is  heard,  though  he  plead  the  worst  cause. 
I  am  a  belted  knight,  and  the  son  and  heir  of  an  earl,  whose 
name  has  been  spread  throughout  England  and  France,  and 
wherever  valour  has  had  fame.' 

'  Alas ! '  said  she,  faintly,  '  I  have  but  too  long  suspected 
what  you  now  tell  me.     Bise,  I  pray  you  — rise.' 

'  Never  till  you  hear  me,'  said  the  youth,  seizing  one  of  her 
hands,  which  trembled,  but  hardly  could  be  said  to  struggle,  in 
his  grasp.  'Hear  me,'  he  said,  with  the  enthusiasm  of  first 
love,  when  the  obstacles  of  bashfulness  and  diffidence  are  sur- 
mounted ;  '  my  father  and  I  are  —  I  acknowledge  it  —  bound  on 
a  most  hazardous  and  doubtful  expedition.  You  will  very  soon 
learn  its  issue  for  good  or  bad.  If  it  succeed,  you  shall  hear  of 
me  in  my  own  character.     If  I  fia-U,  I  must  —  I  will  —  I  do  claim 


288  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

a  tear  from  Anne  of  Geierstein.  If  I  escape,  I  have  yet  a  horse, 
a  lance,  and  a  sword ;  and  you  shall  hear  nobly  of  him  whom 
you  have  thrice  protected  from  imminent  danger.' 

'Arise  —  arise,'  repeated  the  maiden,  whose  tears  began  to 
flow  fast,  as,  struggling  to  raise  her  lover,  they  fell  thick  upon 
his  head  and  face.  '  I  have  heard  enough  ;  to  listen  to  more 
were  indeed  madness,  both  for  you  and  myself.' 

*  Yet  one  single  word,'  added  the  youth  ;  *  while  Arthur  has 
a  heart,  it  beats  for  you ;  while  Arthur  can  wield  an  arm,  it 
strikes  for  you,  and  in  your  cause.' 

Annette  now  rushed  into  the  room. 

'  Away  —  away  ! '  she  cried.  '  Schreckenwald  has  returned 
from  the  village  with  some  horrible  tidings,  and  I  fear  me  he 
comes  this  way.' 

Arthur  had  started  to  his  feet  at  the  first  signal  of  alarm. 

*  If  there  is  danger  near  your  lady,  Annette,  there  is  at  least 
one  faithful  friend  by  her  side.' 

Annette  looked  anxiously  at  her  mistress. 

'But  Schreckenwald,'  she  said — 'Schreckenwald,  your 
father's  steward  —  his  confidant.  0,  think  better  of  it ;  I  can 
hide  Arthur  somewhere.' 

The  noble-minded  girl  had  already  resumed  her  composure, 
and  replied  with  dignity.  '  I  have  done  nothing,'  she  said,  'to 
offend  my  father.  If  Schreckenwald  be  my  father's  steward,  he 
is  my  vassal.  I  hide  no  guest  to  conciliate  him.  Sit  down 
(addressing  Arthur),  and  let  us  receive  this  man.  Introduce 
him  instantly,  Annette,  and  let  us  hear  his  tidings ;  and  bid 
him  remember  that,  when  he  speaks  to  me,  he  addresses  his 
mistress.' 

Arthur  resumed  his  seat,  still  more  proud  of  his  choice  from 
the  noble  and  fearless  spirit  displayed  by  one  who  had  so 
lately  shown  herself  sensible  to  the  gentlest  feelings  of  the 
female  sex. 

Annette,  assuming  courage  from  her  mistress's  dauntless 
demeanour,  clapped  her  hands  together  as  she  left  the  room, 
saying,  but  in  a  low  voice,  '  I  see  that,  after  all,  it  is  something 
to  be  a  baroness,  if  one  can  assert  her  dignity  conformingly. 
How  could  I  be  so  much  frightened  for  this  rude  man ! ' 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

Affairs  that  walk, 
As  they  say  spirits  do,  at  midnight  have 
In  them  a  wilder  nature  than  the  business 
That  seeks  dispatch  by  day. 

Henry  Fill.  Act  V. 

THE  approach  of  the  steward  was  now  boldly  expected  by 
the  little  party.  Arthur,  flattered  at  once  and  elevated 
by  the  firmness  which  Anne  had  shown  when  this  per- 
son's arrival  was  announced,  hastily  considered  the  part  which 
he  was  to  act  in  the  approaching  scene,  and  prudently  deter- 
mined to  avoid  all  active  and  personal  interference,  till  he 
should  observe,  fi*om  the  demeanour  of  Anne,  that  such  was 
likely  to  be  useful  or  agreeable  to  her.  He  resumed  his  place, 
therefore,  at  a  distant  part  of  the  board,  on  which  their  meal 
had  been  lately  spread,  and  remained  there,  determined  to  act 
in  the  manner  Anne's  behaviour  should  suggest  as  most  prudent 
and  fitting  —  veiling,  at  the  same  time,  the  most  acute  internal 
anxiety  by  an  appearance  of  that  deferential  composure  which 
one  of  inferior  rank  adopts  when  admitted  to  the  presence  of 
a  superior.  Anne,  on  her  part,  seemed  to  prepare  herself  for 
an  interview  of  interest.  An  air  of  conscious  dignity  succeeded 
the  extreme  agitation  which  she  had  so  lately  displayed,  and, 
busying  herself  with  some  articles  of  female  work,  she  also 
seemed  to  expect  with  tranquillity  the  visit  to  which  her  at- 
tendant was  disposed  to  attach  so  much  alarm. 

A  step  was  heard  upon  the  stair,  hurried  and  unequal,  as 
that  of  some  one  in  confusion  as  well  as  haste;  the  door  flew 
open,  and  Ital  Schreckenwald  entered. 

This  person,  with  whom  the  details  given  to  the  elder 
Philipson  by  the  Landamman  Biederman  have  made  the  reader 
in  some  degree  acquainted,  was  a  tall,  well-made,  soldierly- 
looking  man.  His  dress,  like  that  of  persons  of  rank  at  the 
period  in  Germany,  was  more  varied  in  colour,  more  cut  and 

YOL.  XXIII  — 19 


290  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

ornamented,  slashed  and  jagged,  than  the  hahit  worn  in  France 
and  England.  The  never-failing  hawk's  feather  decked  his 
cap,  secured  with  a  medal  of  gold,  which  served  as  a  clasp. 
His  doublet  was  of  buif,  for  defence,  but  '  laid  down,'  as  it  was 
called  in  the  tailors'  craft,  with  rich  lace  on  each  seam,  and 
displaying  on  the  breast  a  golden  chain,  the  emblem  of  his  rank 
in  the  baron's  household.  He  entered  with  rather  a  hasty- 
step,  and  busy  and  offended  look,  and  said,  somewhat  rudely  — 
*Why,  how  now,  young  lady — ^wherefore  this?  Strangers  in 
the  castle  at  this  period  of  night ! ' 

Anne  of  Geierstein,  though  she  had  been  long  absent  from 
her  native  country,  was  not  ignorant  of  its  habits  and  customs, 
and  knew  the  haughty  manner  in  which  all  who  were  noble 
exerted  their  authority  over  their  dependants. 

'Are  you  a  vassal  of  Amheim,  Ital  Schreckenwald,  and  do 
you  speak  to  the  Lady  of  Arnheim  in  her  own  castle  with  an 
elevated  voice,  a  saucy  look,  and  bonneted  withal  ?  Know  your 
place ;  and,  when  you  have  demanded  pardon  for  your  insolence, 
and  told  your  errand  in  such  terms  as  befit  your  condition  and 
mine,  I  may  listen  to  what  you  have  to  say.' 

Schreckenwald's  hand,  in  spite  of  him,  stole  to  his  bonnet, 
and  uncovered  his  haughty  brow. 

*  Noble  lady,'  he  said,  in  a  somewhat  milder  tone,  '  excuse 
me  if  my  haste  be  unmannerly,  but  the  alarm  is  instant.  The 
soldiery  of  the  Rhinegrave  have  mutinied,  plucked  down  the 
banners  of  their  master,  and  set  up  an  independent  ensign, 
which  they  call  the  pennon  of  St.  Nicholas,  under  which  they 
declare  that  they  will  maintain  peace  with  God  and  war  with 
all  the  world.  This  castle  cannot  escape  them,  when  they  con- 
sider that  the  first  course  to  maintain  themselves  must  be  to 
take  possession  of  some  place  of  strength.  You  must  up,  then, 
and  ride  with  the  very  peep  of  dawn.  For  the  present,  they  are 
busy  with  the  wine-skins  of  the  peasants,  but  when  they  wake 
in  the  morning  they  will  unquestionably  march  hither :  and 
you  may  chance  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  those  who  will  think 
of  the  terrors  of  the  Castle  of  Arnheim  as  the  figments  of  a 
fairy  tale,  and  laugh  at  its  mistress's  pretensions  to  honour  and 
respect.' 

'  Is  it  impossible  to  make  resistance  ?  The  castle  is  strong,' 
said  the  young  lady,  'and  I  am  unwilling  to  leave  the  house 
of  my  fathers  without  attempting  somewhat  in  our  defence.' 

'Five  hundred  men,'  said  Schreckenwald,  'might  garrison 
Amheim,  battlement  and  tower.     With  a  less  number  it  were 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  291 

madness  to  attempt  to  keep  such  an  extent  of  walls ;  and  how 
to  get  twenty  soldiers  together,  I  am  sure  I  know  not.  So, 
having  now  the  truth  of  the  story,  let  me  beseech  you  to 
dismiss  this  guest  —  too  young,  I  think,  to  be  the  inmate  of  a 
lady's  bower  —  and  I  will  point  to  him  the  nighest  way  out  of 
the  castle;  for  this  is  a  strait  in  which  we  must  all  be  con- 
tented with  looking  to  our  own  safety.' 

'  And  whither  is  it  that  you  propose  to  goV  said  the 
baroness,  continuing  to  maintain,  in  respect  to  Ital  Schrecken- 
wald,  the  complete  and  calm  assertion  of  absolute  superiority, 
to  which  the  seneschal  gave  way  with  such  marks  of  impatience 
as  a  fiery  steed  exhibits  under  the  management  of  a  complete 
cavalier. 

*  To  Strasburg  I  propose  to  go  —  that  is,  if  it  so  please  you 
—  with  such  slight  escort  as  I  can  get  hastily  together  by  day- 
break. I  trust  we  may  escape  being  observed  by  the  mutineers ; 
or,  if  we  fall  in  with  a  party  of  stragglers,  I  apprehend  but 
little  difficulty  in  forcing  my  way.' 

*And  wherefore  do  you  prefer  Strasburg  as  a  place  of 
asylum  1 ' 

'  Because  I  trust  we  shall  there  meet  your  Excellency's  father, 
the  noble  Count  Albert  of  Geierstein.' 

'  It  is  well,'  said  the  young  lady.  '  You  also,  I  think,  Signior 
Philipson,  spoke  of  directing  your  course  to  Strasburg.  If  it 
consist  with  your  convenience,  you  may  avail  yourself  of  the 
protection  of  my  escort  as  far  as  that  city,  where  you  expect  to 
meet  your  father.' 

It  will  readily  be  believed  that  Arthur  cheerfully  bowed 
assent  to  a  proposal  which  was  to  prolong  their  remaining  in 
society  together  ;  and  might  possibly,  as  his  romantic  imagina- 
tion suggested,  afford  him  an  opportunity,  on  a  road  beset  with 
dangers,  to  render  some  service  of  importance. 

Ital  Schreckenwald  attempted  to  remonstrate. 

*  Lady  —  lady  ! '  he  said,  with  some  marks  of  impatience. 

*  Take  breath  and  leisure,  Schreckenwald,'  said  Anne,  *  and 
you  will  be  more  able  to  express  yourself  with  distinctness  and 
with  respectful  propriety.' 

The  impatient  vassal  muttered  an  oath  betwixt  his  teeth,  and 
answered  with  forced  civility — 'Permit  me  to  state,  that  our 
case  requires  we  should  charge  ourselves  with  the  care  of  no  one 
but  you.  We  shall  be  few  enough  for  your  defence,  and  I  can- 
not permit  any  stranger  to  travel  with  us.' 

*If,'  said  Arthur,  'I  conceived  that  I  was  to  be  a  useless 


292  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

encumbrance  on  the  retreat  of  this  noble  young  lady,  worlds, 
sir  squire,  would  not  induce  me  to  accept  her  offer.  But  I  am 
neither  child  nor  woman  :  I  am  a  full-grown  man,  and  ready  to 
show  such  good  service  as  manhood  may  in  defence  of  your  lady.' 

*  If  we  must  not  challenge  your  valour  and  ability,  young 
sir,'  said  Schreckenwald,  *  who  shall  answer  for  your  fidelity  1 ' 

'To  question  that  elsewhere,'  said  Arthur,  'might  be 
dangerous.' 

But  Anne  interfered  between  them.  '  We  must  straight  to 
rest,  and  remain  prompt  for  alarm,  perhaps  even  before  the 
hour  of  dawn.  Schreckenwald,  I  trust  to  your  care  for  due 
watch  and  ward.  You  have  men  enough  at  least  for  that 
purpose.  And  hear  and  mark  —  it  is  my  desire  and  command 
that  this  gentleman  be  accommodated  with  lodgings  here  for 
this  night,  and  that  he  travel  with  us  to-morrow.  For  this  I 
will  be  responsible  to  my  father,  and  your  part  is  only  to  obey 
my  commands.  I  have  long  had  occasion  to  know  both  the 
young  man's  father  and  himself,  who  were  ancient  guests  of  my 
uncle,  the  Landamman.  On  the  journey  you  will  keep  the 
youth  beside  you,  and  use  such  courtesy  to  him  as  your  rugged 
temper  will  permit.' 

Ital  Schreckenwald  intimated  his  acquiescence  with  a  look 
of  bitterness,  which  it  were  vain  to  attempt  to  describe.  It 
expressed  spite,  mortification,  humbled  pride,  and  reluctant 
submission.  He  did  submit,  however,  and  ushered  young 
Philipson  into  a  decent  apartment  with  a  bed,  which  the 
fatigue  and  agitation  of  the  preceding  day  rendered  very 
acceptable. 

Notwithstanding  the  ardour  with  which  Arthur  expected 
the  rise  of  the  next  dawn,  his  deep  repose,  the  fruit  of  fatigue, 
held  him  until  the  reddening  of  the  east,  when  the  voice  of 
Schreckenwald  exclaimed,  *Up,  sir  Englishman,  if  you  mean 
to  accomplish  your  boast  of  royal  service.  It  is  time  we  were 
in  the  saddle,  and  we  shall  tarry  for  no  sluggards.' 

Arthur  was  on  the  floor  of  the  apartment,  and  dressed,  in 
almost  an  instant,  not  forgetting  to  put  on  his  shirt  of  mail, 
and  assume  whatever  weapons  seemed  most  fit  to  render  him 
an  efiicient  part  of  the  convoy.  He  next  hastened  to  seek  out 
the  stable,  to  have  his  horse  in  readiness ;  and,  descending  for 
that  purpose  into  the  under  story  of  the  lower  mass  of  build- 
ings, he  was  wandering  in  search  of  the  way  which  led  to  the 
offices,  when  the  voice  of  Annette  Veilchen  softly  whispered, 
'This  way,  Signior  Philipson;  I  would  speak  with  you.' 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  29S 

The  Swiss  maiden,  at  the  same  time,  beckoned  him  into  a 
small  room,  where  he  found  her  alone. 

*Were  you  not  surprised,'  she  said,  'to  see  my  lady  queen 
it  so  over  Ital  Schreckenwald,  who  keeps  every  other  person  in 
awe  with  his  stern  looks  and  cross  words?  But  the  air  of 
command  seems  so  natural  to  her  that,  instead  of  being  a 
baroness,  she  might  have  been  an  empress.  It  must  come  of 
birth,  I  think,  after  all,  for  I  tried  last  night  to  take  state 
upon  me,  after  the  fashion  of  my  mistress,  and,  would  you 
think  it,  the  brute  Schreckenwald  threatened  to  throw  me  out 
of  the  window  ?  But  if  ever  I  see  Martin  Sprenger  again,  I  '11 
know  if  there  is  strength  in  a  Swiss  arm,  and  virtue  in  a  Swiss 
quarter- staff.  But  here  I  stand  prating,  and  my  lady  wishes 
to  see  you  for  a  minute  ere  we  take  to  horse.' 

'  Your  lady ! '  said  Arthur,  starting.  '  Why  did  you  lose  an 
instant  ?  —  why  not  tell  me  before  1 ' 

*  Because  I  was  only  to  keep  you  here  till  she  came,  and  — 
here  she  is.' 

Anne  of  Geierstein  entered,  fully  attired  for  her  journey. 
Annette,  always  willing  to  do  as  she  would  wish  to  be  done  by, 
was  about  to  leave  the  apartment,  when  her  mistress,  who  had 
apparently  made  up  her  mind  concerning  what  she  had  to  do 
or  say,  commanded  her  positively  to  remain. 

*  I  am  sure,'  she  said,  '  Siguier  Philipson  will  rightly  under- 
stand the  feelings  of  hospitality  —  I  will  say  of  friendship  — 
which  prevented  my  suffering  him  to  be  expelled  from  my 
castle  last  night,  and  which  have  determined  me  this  morning 
to  admit  of  his  company  on  the  somewhat  dangerous  road  to 
Strasburg.  At  the  gate  of  that  town  we  part,  I  to  join  my 
father,  you  to  place  yourself  under  the  direction  of  yours. 
From  that  moment  intercourse  between  us  ends,  and  our 
remembrance  of  each  other  must  be  as  the  thoughts  which  we 
pay  to  friends  deceased.' 

'Tender  recollections,'  said  Arthur,  passionately,  'more  dear 
to  our  bosoms  than  all  we  have  surviving  upon  earth.' 

'Not  a  word  in  that  tone,'  answered  the  maiden.  'With 
night  delusion  should  end,  and  reason  awaken  with  dawning. 
One  word  more.  Do  not  address  me  on  the  road ;  you  may,  by 
doing  so,  expose  me  to  vexatious  and  insulting  suspicion,  and 
yourself  to  quarrels  and  peril.  Farewell,  our  party  is  ready  to 
take  horse.' 

She  left  the  apartment,  where  Arthur  remained  for  a  moment 
deeply  bewildered  in  grief  and  disappointment.    The  patience, 


294  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

nay,  even  fovour,  with  which  Anne  of  Geierstein  had,  on  the 
previous  night,  listened  to  his  passion  had  not  prepared  him 
for  the  terms  of  reserve  and  distance  which  she  now  adopted 
towards  him.  He  was  ignorant  that  noble  maids,  if  feeling  or 
passion  has  for  a  moment  swayed  them  from  the  strict  path 
of  principle  and  duty,  endeavour  to  atone  for  it  by  instantly 
returning,  and  severely  adhering,  to  the  line  from  which  they 
have  made  a  momentary  departure.  He  looked  mournfully  on 
Annette,  who,  as  she  had  been  in  the  room  before  Anne's 
arrival,  took  the  privilege  of  remaining  a  minute  after  her 
departure ;  but  he  read  no  comfort  in  the  glances  of  the  con- 
fidante, who  seemed  as  much  disconcerted  as  himself. 

'  I  cannot  imagine  what  hath  happened  to  her/  said  Annette ; 
'  to  me  she  is  kind  as  ever,  but  to  every  other  person  about  her 
she  plays  countess  and  baroness  with  a  witness ;  and  now  she 
is  begun  to  tyrannise  over  her  own  natural  feelings,  and  —  if 
this  be  greatness,  Annette  Veilchen  trusts  always  to  remain 
the  penniless  Swiss  girl ;  she  is  mistress  of  her  own  freedom, 
and  at  liberty  to  speak  with  her  bachelor  when  she  pleases,  so 
as  religion  and  maiden  modesty  suiFer  nothing  in  the  conversa- 
tion. Oh,  a  single  daisy  twisted  with  content  into  one's  hair 
is  worth  all  the  opals  in  India,  if  they  bind  us  to  torment  our- 
selves and  other  people,  or  hinder  us  from  speaking  our  mind, 
when  our  heart  is  upon  our  tongue.  But  never  fear,  Arthur ; 
for,  if  she  has  the  cruelty  to  think  of  forgetting  you,  you  may 
rely  on  one  friend  who,  while  she  has  a  tongue  and  Anne  has 
ears,  will  make  it  impossible  for  her  to  do  so.' 

So  saying,  away  tripped  Annette,  having  first  indicated  to 
Philipson  the  passage  by  which  he  would  find  the  lower  court 
of  the  castle.  There  his  steed  stood  ready,  among  about 
twenty  others.  Twelve  of  these  were  accoutred  with  war 
saddles  and  frontlets  of  proof,  being  intended  for  the  use  of 
as  many  cavaliers,  or  troopers,  retainers  of  the  family  of  Arn- 
heim,  whom  the  seneschal's  exertions  had  been  able  to  collect 
on  the  spur  of  the  occasion.  Two  palfreys,  somewhat  distin- 
guished by  their  trappings,  were  designed  for  Anne  of  Geier- 
stein and  her  favourite  female  attendant.  The  other  menials, 
chiefly  boys  and  women  servants,  had  inferior  horses.  At  a 
signal  made,  the  troopers  took  their  lances  and  stood  by  their 
steeds,  till  the  females  and  menials  were  mounted  and  in  order ; 
they  then  sprang  into  their  saddles  and  began  to  move  forward, 
slowly  and  with  great  precaution.  Schreckenwald  led  the  van, 
and  kept  Arthur  Philipson  close  beside  him.     Anne  and  her 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  295 

attendant  were  in  the  centre  of  the  little  body,  followed  by  the 
unwarlike  train  of  servants,  while  two  or  three  experienced 
cavaliers  brought  up  the  rear,  with  strict  orders  to  guard 
against  surprise. 

On  their  being  put  into  motion,  the  first  thing  which  surprised 
Arthur  was,  that  the  horses'  hoofs  no  longer  sent  forth  the  sharp 
and  ringing  sound  arising  from  the  collision  of  iron  and  flint, 
and,  as  the  morning  light  increased,  he  could  perceive  that  the 
fetlock  and  hoof  of  every  steed,  his  own  included,  had  been 
carefully  wrapped  around  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  wool  to 
prevent  the  usual  noise  which  accompanied  their  motions.  It 
was  a  singular  thing  to  behold  the  passage  of  the  little  body 
of  cavalry  down  the  rocky  road  which  led  from  the  castle,  un- 
attended with  the  noise  which  we  are  disposed  to  consider  as 
inseparable  from  the  motions  of  horse,  the  absence  of  which 
seemed  to  give  a  peculiar  and  almost  an  unearthly  appearance 
to  the  cavalcade. 

They  passed  in  this  manner  the  winding  path  which  led 
from  the  Castle  of  Arnheim  to  the  adjacent  village,  which,  as 
was  the  ancient  feudal  custom,  lay  so  near  the  fortress  that  its 
inhabitants,  when  summoned  by  their  lord,  could  instantly 
repair  for  its  defence.  But  it  was  at  present  occupied  by  very 
different  inhabitants,  the  mutinous  soldiers  of  the  Rhinegrave. 
When  the  party  from  Arnheim  approached  the  entrance  of  the 
village,  Schreckenwald  made  a  signal  to  halt,  which  was  in- 
stantly obeyed  by  his  followers.  He  then  rode  forward  in 
person  to  reconnoitre,  accompanied  by  Arthur  Philipson,  both 
moving  with  the  utmost  steadiness  and  precaution.  The 
deepest  silence  prevailed  in  the  deserted  streets.  Here  and 
there  a  soldier  was  seen,  seemingly  designed  for  a  sentinel,  but 
uniformly  fast  asleep. 

^  The  swinish  mutineers ! '  said  Schreckenwald ;  '  a  fair 
night-watch  they  keep,  and  a  beautiful  morning's  rouse  would  I 
treat  them  with,  were  not  the  point  to  protect  yonder  peevish 
wench.  Halt  thou  here,  stranger,  while  I  ride  back  and  bring 
them  on  ;  there  is  no  danger.' 

Schreckenwald  left  Arthur  as  he  spoke,  who,  alone  in  the 
street  of  a  village  filled  with  banditti,  though  they  were  lulled 
into  temporary  insensibility,  had  no  reason  to  consider  his  case 
as  very  comfortable.  The  chorus  of  a  wassail  song,  which  some 
reveller  was  trolling  over  in  his  sleep;  or,  in  its  turn,  the 
growling  of  some  village  cur,  seemed  the  signal  for  an  hundred 
ruffians  to  start  up  around  him.     But  in  the  space  of  two  or 


296  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

three  minutes  the  noiseless  cavalcade,  headed  by  Ital  Schrecken- 
wald,  again  joined  him,  and  followed  their  leader,  observing 
the  utmost  precaution  not  to  give  an  alarm.  All  went  well 
till  they  reached  the  farther  end  of  the  village,  where,  although 
the  baarenhaut&r  ^  who  kept  guard  was  as  drunk  as  his  com- 
panions on  duty,  a  large  shaggy  dog  which  lay  beside  him  was 
more  vigilant.  As  the  little  troop  approached,  the  animal  sent 
forth  a  ferocious  yell,  loud  enough  to  have  broken  the  rest  of 
the  Seven  Sleepers,  and  which  effectually  dispelled  the  slumbers 
of  its  master.  The  soldier  snatched  up  his  carabine  and  fired, 
he  knew  not  well  at  what,  or  for  what  reason.  The  ball,  how- 
ever, struck  Arthur's  horse  under  him,  and,  as  the  animal 
fell,  the  sentinel  rushed  forward  to  kill  or  make  prisoner  the 
rider. 

'Haste  on  —  haste  on,  men  of  Arnheim  !  care  for  nothing  but 
the  young  lady's  safety,'  exclaimed  the  leader  of  the  band. 

'  Stay,  I  command  you ;  aid  the  stranger,  on  your  lives  ! ' 
said  Anne,  in  a  voice  which,  usually  gentle  and  meek,  she  now 
made  heard  by  those  around  her,  like  the  note  of  a  silver 
clarion.     '  I  will  not  stir  till  he  is  rescued.' 

Schreckenwald  had  already  spurred  his  horse  for  flight ;  but, 
perceiving  Anne's  reluctance  to  follow  him,  he  dashed  back, 
and  seizing  a  horse,  which,  bridled  and  saddled,  stood  picqueted 
near  him,  he  threw  the  reins  to  Arthur  Philipson;  and  pushing 
his  own  horse,  at  the  same  time,  betwixt  the  Englishman  and 
the  soldier,  he  forced  the  latter  to  quit  the  hold  he  had  on  his 
person.  In  an  instaut  Philipson  was  again  mounted,  when, 
seizing  a  battle-axe  which  hung  at  the  saddle-bow  of  his  new 
steed,  he  struck  down  the  staggering  sentinel,  who  was  en- 
deavouring again  to  seize  upon  him.  The  whole  troop  then 
rode  off  at  a  gallop,  for  the  alarm  began  to  grow  general  in  the 
village ;  some  soldiers  were  seen  coming  out  of  their  quarters, 
and  others  were  beginning  to  get  upon  horseback.  Before 
Schreckenwald  and  his  party  had  ridden  a  mile,  they  heard 
more  than  once  the  sound  of  bugles ;  and  when  they  arrived 
upon  the  summit  of  an  eminence  commanding  a  view  of  the 
village,  their  leader,  who,  during  the  retreat,  had  placed  him- 
self in  the  rear  of  his  company,  now  halted  to  reconnoitre  the 
enemy  they  had  left  behind  them.  There  was  bustle  and  con- 
fusion in  the  street,  but  there  did  not  appear  to  be  any  pursuit ; 
so  that  Schreckenwald  followed  his  route  down  the  river,  with 

1  Baarenhauter  —  he  of  the  bear's  hide  —  a  nickname  for  a  German 
private  soldier. 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  297 

speed  and  activity  indeed,  but  with  so  much  steadiness  at  the 
same  time  as  not  to  distress  the  slowest  horse  of  his  party. 

When  they  had  ridden  two  hours  or  more,  the  confidence  of 
their  leader  was  so  much  augmented,  that  he  ventured  to  com- 
mand a  halt  at  the  edge  of  a  pleasant  grove,  which  served  to 
conceal  their  number,  whilst  both  riders  and  horses  took  some 
refi'eshment,  for  which  purpose  forage  and  provisions  had  been 
borne  along  with  them.  Ital  Schreckenwald  having  held  some 
communication  with  the  baroness,  continued  to  offer  their 
travelling  companion  a  sort  of  surly  civility.  He  invited  him 
to  partake  of  nis  own  mess,  which  was  indeed  little  different 
from  that  which  was  served  out  to  the  other  troopers,  but  was 
seasoned  with  a  glass  of  wine  from  a  more  choice  flask. 

'To  your  health,  brother,'  he  said;  *if  you  tell  this  day's 
story  truly,  you  will  allow  that  I  was  a  true  comrade  to  you 
two  hours  since,  in  riding  through  the  village  of  Amheim.' 

*  I  will  never  deny  it,  fair  sir,'  said  Philipson,  *  and  I  return 
you  thanks  for  your  timely  assistance,  alike  whether  it  sprang 
from  your  mistress's  order  or  your  own  good- will.' 

'  Ho  !  ho  !  my  friend,'  said  Schreckenwald,  laughing,  *  you  are 
a  philosopher,  and  can  try  conclusions  while  your  horse  lies 
rolling  above  you,  and  a  haarenhauter  aims  his  sword  at  your 
throat  1  Well,  since  your  wit  hath  discovered  so  much,  I  care 
not  if  you  know  that  I  should  not  have  had  much  scruple 
to  sacrifice  twenty  such  smooth-faced  gentlemen  as  yourself, 
rather  than  the  young  Baroness  of  Arnheim  had  incurred  the 
slightest  danger.' 

*The  propriety  of  the  sentiment,'  said  Philipson,  *is  so 
undoubtedly  correct,  that  I  subscribe  to  it,  even  though  it  is 
something  discourteously  expressed  towards  myself.' 

In  making  this  reply,  the  young  man,  provoked  at  the 
insolence  of  Schreckenwald's  manner,  raised  his  voice  a  little. 
The  circumstance  did  not  escape  observation,  for  on  the  in- 
stant Annette  Veilchen  stood  before  them  with  her  mistress's 
commands  on  them  both  to  speak  in  whispers,  or  rather  to  be 
altogether  silent. 

*  Say  to  your  mistress  that  I  am  mute,'  said  Philipson. 

*  Our  mistress,  the  baroness,  says,'  continued  Annette,  with  an 
emphasis  on  the  title,  to  which  she  began  to  ascribe  some  tahs- 
manic  influence  — '  the  baroness,  I  tell  you,  says,  that  silence 
much  concerns  our  safety,  for  it  were  most  hazardous  to  draw 
upon  this  little  fugitive  party  the  notice  of  any  passengers 
who  may  pass  along  the  road  during  the  necessary  halt ;  and  so, 


298  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

sirs,  it  is  the  baroness's  request  that  you  will  continue  the 
exercise  of  your  teeth  as  fast  as  you  can,  and  forbear  that  of 
your  tongues  till  you  are  in  a  safer  condition.' 

'My  lady  is  wise,'  answered  Ital  Schreckenwald,  'and  her 
maiden  is  witty.  I  drink.  Mistress  Annette,  in  a  cup  of  Rudes- 
heimer,  to  the  continuance  of  her  sagacity,  and  of  your  amiable 
liveliness  of  disposition.  "Will  it  please  you,  fair  mistress,  to 
pledge  me  in  this  generous  liquor  1 ' 

'Out,  thou  German  wine-flask!  Out,  thou  eternal  swill- 
flagon  !  Heard  you  ever  of  a  modest  maiden  who  drank  wine 
before  she  had  dined  V 

'Remain  without  the  generous  inspiration,  then,'  said  the 
German,  '  and  nourish  thy  satirical  vein  on  sour  cider  or  acid 
whey.' 

A  short  space  having  been  allowed  to  refresh  themselves, 
the  little  party  again  mounted  their  horses,  and  travelled  with 
such  speed,  that  long  before  noon  they  arrived  at  the  strongly 
fortified  town  of  Kehl,  opposite  to  Strasburg,  on  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  Rhine. 

It  is  for  local  antiquaries  to  discover  whether  the  travellers 
crossed  from  Kehl  to  Strasburg  by  the  celebrated  bridge  of 
boats  which  at  present  maintains  the  communication  across 
the  river,  or  whether  they  were  wafted  over  by  some  other  mode 
of  transportation.  It  is  enough  that  they  passed  in  safety,  and 
had  landed  on  the  other  side,  where  —  whether  she  dreaded  that 
he  might  forget  the  charge  she  had  given  him,  that  here  they 
were  to  separate,  or  whether  she  thought  that  something  more 
might  be  said  in  the  moment  of  parting  —  the  young  baroness, 
before  remounting  her  horse,  once  more  approached  Arthur 
Philipson,  who  too  truly  guessed  the  tenor  of  what  she  had  to 
say. 

'Gentle  stranger,'  she  said,  *I  must  now  bid  you  farewell. 
But  first  let  me  ask  if  you  know  whereabouts  you  are  to  seek 
your  father "? ' 

'  In  an  inn  called  the  Fl3ang  Stag,'  said  Arthur,  dejectedly ; 
*  but  where  that  is  situated  in  this  large  town,  I  know  not.' 

'  Do  you  know  the  pla;ce,  Ital  Schreckenwald  ? ' 

'  I,  young  lady  ?  Not  I  —  I  know  nothing  of  Strasburg  and 
its  inns.     I  believe  most  of  our  party  are  as  ignorant  as  I  am.' 

'  You  and  they  speak  German,  I  suppose,'  said  the  baroness, 
drily,  'and  can  make  inquiry  more  easily  than  a  foreigner? 
Go,  sir,  and  forget  not  that  humanity  to  the  stranger  is  a  reli- 
gious duty.' 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  299 

With  that  shrug  of  the  shoulders  which  testifies  a  displeased 
messenger,  Ital  went  to  make  some  inquiry,  and  in  his  absence, 
brief  as  it  was,  Anne  took  an  opportunity  to  say  apart  — '  Fare- 
well —  farewell !  Accept  this  token  of  friendship,  and  wear  it 
for  my  sake.     May  you  be  happy ! ' 

Her  slender  fingers  dropped  into  his  hand  a  very  small 
parcel.  He  turned  to  thank  her,  but  she  was  already  at  some 
distance ;  and  Schreckenwald,  who  had  taken  his  place  by  his 
side,  said  in  his  harsh  voice,  '  Come,  sir  squire,  I  have  found 
out  your  place  of  rendezvous,  and  I  have  but  little  time  to  play 
the  gentleman-usher.' 

He  then  rode  on;  and  Philipson,  mounted  on  his  military 
charger,  followed  him  in  silence  to  the  point  where  a  large 
street  joined,  or  rather  crossed,  that  which  led  from  the  quay 
on  which  they  had  landed. 

'Yonder  swings  the  Flying  Stag,'  said  Ital,  pointing  to  an 
immense  sign,  which,  mounted  on  a  huge  wooden  frame,  crossed 
almost  the  whole  breadth  of  the  street.  'Your  intelligence 
can,  I  think,  hardly  abandon  you,  with  such  a  guide-post  in 
your  eye.' 

So  saying,  he  turned  his  horse  without  further  farewell,  and 
rode  back  to  join  his  mistress  and  her  attendants. 

Philipson's  eyes  rested  on  the  same  group  for  a  moment, 
when  he  was  recalled  to  a  sense  of  his  situation  by  the  thoughts 
of  his  father ;  and,  spurring  his  jaded  horse  down  the  cross 
street,  he  reached  the  hostelry  of  the  Flying  Stag. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

I  was,  I  must  confess, 
Great  Albion's  queen  in  former  golden  days  ; 
But  now  mischance  hath  trode  my  title  down. 
And  with  dishonour  laid  me  on  the  ground. 
Where  I  must  take  like  seat  unto  my  fortune. 
And  to  my  humble  seat  conform  myself. 

Henry  VL  Part  III. 

THE  hostelry  of  the  Flying  Stag,  in  Strasburg,  was,  like 
every  inn  in  the  Empire  at  that  period,  conducted  with 
much  the  same  discourteous  inattention  to  the  wants 
and  accommodation  of  the  guests  as  that  of  John  Mengs.  But 
the  youth  and  good  looks  of  Arthur  Philipson,  circumstances 
which  seldom  or  never  fail  to  produce  some  effect  where  the 
fair  are  concerned,  prevailed  upon  a  short,  plump,  dimpled, 
blue-eyed,  fair-skinned  yungfrau^  the  daughter  of  the  landlord 
of  the  Flying  Stag,  himself  a  fat  old  man,  pinned  to  the  oaken 
chair  in  the  stuhe^  to  carry  herself  to  the  young  Englishman 
with  a  degree  of  condescension  which,  in  the  privileged  race  to 
which  she  belonged,  was  little  short  of  degradation.  She  not 
only  put  her  light  iDuskins  and  her  pretty  ankles  in  danger  of 
being  soiled  by  tripping  across  the  yard  to  point  out  an  unoc- 
cupied stable,  but,  on  Arthur's  inquiry  after  his  father,  con- 
descended to  recollect  that  such  a  guest  as  he  described  had 
lodged  in  the  house  last  night,  and  had  said  he  expected  to 
meet  there  a  young  person,  his  fellow-traveller. 

'  I  will  send  him  out  to  you,  fair  sir,'  said  the  little  yung- 
frau  with  a  smile,  which,  if  things  of  the  kind  are  to  be  valued 
by  their  rare  occurrence,  must  have  been  reckoned  inestimable. 

She  was  as  good  as  her  word.  In  a  few  instants  the  elder 
Philipson  entered  the  stable,  and  folded  his  son  in  his  arms. 

*  My  son  —  my  dear  son ! '  said  the  Englishman,  his  usual 
stoicism  broken  down  and  melted  by  natural  feeling  and 
parental  tenderness.     '  Welcome  to  me  at  all  times  —  welcome 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  301 

in  a  period  of  doubt  and  danger  —  and  most  welcome  of  all  in 
a  moment  which  forms  the  very  crisis  of  our  fate.  In  a  few 
hours  I  shall  know  what  we  may  expect  from  the  Duke  of 
Burgundy.     Hast  thou  the  token  "? ' 

Arthur's  hand  first  sought  that  which  was  nearest  to  his 
heart,  both  in  the  literal  and  allegorical  sense,  the  small  parcel, 
namely,  which  Anne  had  given  him  at  parting.  But  he  recol- 
lected himself  in  the  instant,  and  presented  to  his  father  the 
packet  which  had  been  so  strangely  lost  and  recovered  at  La 
Ferette. 

'  It  hath  run  its  own  risk  since  you  saw  it,'  he  observed  to 
his  father,  '  and  so  have  I  mine.  I  received  hospitality  at  a 
castle  last  night,  and  behold  a  body  of  lanzknechts  in  the 
neighbourhood  began  in  the  morning  to  mutiny  for  their  pay. 
The  inhabitants  fled  from  the  castle  to  escape  their  violence, 
and,  as  we  passed  their  leaguer  in  the  grey  of  the  morning,  a 
drunken  haarenhaut&r  shot  my  poor  horse,  and  I  was  forced, 
in  the  way  of  exchange,  to  take  up  with  his  heavy  Flemish 
animal,  with  its  steel  saddle  and  its  clumsy  chaffron.' 

'■  Our  road  is  beset  with  perils,'  said  his  father.  '  I  too  have 
had  my  share,  having  been  in  great  danger  (he  told  not  its 
precise  nature)  at  an  inn  where  I  rested  last  night.  But  I 
left  it  in  the  morning,  and  proceeded  hither  in  safety.  I  have 
at  length,  however,  obtained  a  safe  escort  to  conduct  me  to  the 
Duke's  camp  near  Dijon ;  and  I  trust  to  have  an  audience  of 
him  this  evening.  Then,  if  our  last  hope  should  fail,  we  will 
seek  the  seaport  of  Marseilles,  hoist  sail  for  Candia  or  for 
Rhodes,  and  spend  our  lives  in  defence  of  Christendom,  since 
we  may  no  longer  fight  for  England.' 

Arthur  heard  these  ominous  words  without  reply  ;  but  they 
did  not  the  less  sink  upon  his  heart,  deadly  as  the  doom  of  the 
judge  which  secludes  the  criminal  from  society  and  all  its  joys, 
and  condemns  him  to  an  eternal  prison-house.  The  beUs  from 
the  cathedral  began  to  toll  at  this  instant,  and  reminded  the 
elder  Philipson  of  the  duty  of  hearing  mass,  which  was  said  at 
all  hours  in  some  one  or  other  of  the  separate  chapels  which 
are  contained  in  that  magnificent  pile.  His  son  followed,  on 
an  intimation  of  his  pleasure. 

In  approaching  the  access  to  this  superb  cathedral,  the 
travellers  found  it  obstructed,  as  is  usual  in  Catholic  countries, 
by  the  number  of  mendicants  of  both  sexes  who  crowded  round 
the  entrance  to  give  the  worshippers  an  opportunity  of  dis- 
charging the  duty  of  almsgiving,  so  positively  enjoined  as  a 


302  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

chief  observance  of  their  church.  The  Englishmen  extricated 
themselves  from  their  importunity  by  bestowing,  as  is  usual  on 
such  occasions,  a  donative  of  small  coin  upon  those  who  ap- 
peared most  needy,  or  most  deserving  of  their  charity.  One 
tall  woman  stood  on  the  steps  close  to  the  door,  and  extended 
her  hand  to  the  elder  Philipson,  who,  struck  with  her  appear- 
ance, exchanged  for  a  piece  of  silver  the  copper  coins  which  he 
had  been  distributing  amongst  others. 

'  A  marvel ! '  she  said,  in  the  English  language,  but  in  a  tone 
calculated  only  to  be  heard  by  him  alone,  although  his  son  also 
caught  the  sound  and  sense  of  what  she  said  —  'ay,  a  miracle  ! 
An  Englishman  still  possesses  a  silver  piece,  and  can  afford  to 
bestow  it  on  the  poor ! ' 

Arthur  was  sensible  that  his  father  started  somewhat  at  the 
voice  or  words,  which  bore,  even  in  his  ear,  something  of  deeper 
import  than  the  observation  of  an  ordinary  mendicant.  But, 
after  a  glance  at  the  female  who  thus  addressed  him,  his  father 
passed  onwards  into  the  body  of  the  church,  and  was  soon 
engaged  in  attending  to  the  solemn  ceremony  of  the  mass,  as 
it  was  performed  by  a  priest  at  the  altar  of  a  chapel  divided 
from  the  main  body  of  the  splendid  edifice,  and  dedicated,  as 
it  appeared  from  the  image  over  the  altar,  to  St.  George  —  that 
military  saint  whose  real  history  is  so  obscure,  though  his 
popular  legend  rendered  him  an  object  of  peculiar  veneration 
during  the  feudal  ages.  The  ceremony  was  begun  and  finished 
with  all  customary  forms.  The  officiating  priest,  with  his  at- 
tendants, withdrew,  and  though  some  of  the  few  worshippers 
who  had  assisted  at  the  solemnity  remained  telling  their  beads, 
and  occupied  with  the  performance  of  their  private  devotions, 
far  the  greater  part  left  the  chapel,  to  visit  other  shrines,  or  to 
return  to  th&  prosecution  of  their  secular  affairs. 

But  Arthur  Philipson  remarked  that,  whilst  they  dropped 
off  one  after  another,  the  tall  woman  who  had  received  his 
father's  alms  continued  to  kneel  near  the  altar ;  and  he  was  yet 
more  surprised  to  see  that  his  father  himself,  who,  he  had  many 
reasons  to  know,  was  desirous  to  spend  in  the  church  no  more 
time  than  the  duties  of  devotion  absolutely  claimed,  remained 
also  on  his  knees,  with  his  eyes  resting  on  the  form  of  the  veiled 
devotee  (such  she  seemed  from  her  dress),  as  if  his  own  motions 
were  to  be  guided  by  hers.  By  no  idea  which  occurred  to  him 
was  Arthur  able  to  form  the  least  conjecture  as  to  his  father's 
motives ;  he  only  knew  that  he  was  engaged  in  a  critical  and 
dangerous  negotiation,  liable  to  influence  or  interruption  from 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  303 

various  quarters ;  and  that  political  suspicion  was  so  generally 
awake  both  in  France,  Italy,  and  Flanders,  that  the  most 
important  agents  were  often  obliged  to  assume  the  most  im- 
penetrable disguises,  in  order  to  insinuate  themselves  without 
suspicion  into  the  countries  where  their  services  were  required. 
Louis  XL,  in  particular,  whose  singular  policy  seemed  in 
some  degree  to  give  a  character  to  the  age  in  which  he 
lived,  was  well  known  to  have  disguised  his  principal  emis- 
saries and  envoys  in  the  fictitious  garbs  of  mendicant  monks, 
minstrels,  gipsies,  and  other  privileged  wanderers  of  the 
meanest  description. 

Arthur  concluded,  therefore,  that  it  was  not  improbable 
that  this  female  might,  like  themselves,  be  something  more 
than  her  dress  imported ;  and  he  resolved  to  observe  his  father's 
deportment  towards  her,  and  regulate  his  own  actions  accoid- 
ingly.  A  bell  at  last  announced  that  mass,  upon  a  more 
splendid  scale,  was  about  to  be  celebrated  before  the  high 
altar  of  the  cathedral  itself,  and  its  sound  withdrew  from  the 
sequestered  chapel  of  St.  George  the  few  who  had  remained  at 
the  shrine  of  the  military  saint,  excepting  the  father  and  son, 
and  the  female  penitent  who  kneeled  opposite  to  them.  When 
the  last  of  the  worshippers  had  retired,  the  female  arose  and 
advanced  towards  the  elder  Philipson,  who,  folding  his  arms 
on  his  bosom,  and  stooping  his  head,  in  an  attitude  of  obei- 
sance which  his  son  had  never  before  seen  him  assume,  ap- 
peared rather  to  wait  what  she  had  to  say  than  to  propose 
addressing  her. 

There  was  a  pause.  Four  lamps,  lighted  before  the  shrine 
of  the  saint,  cast  a  dim  radiance  on  his  armour  and  steed, 
represented  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  transfixing  with  his  lance 
the  prostrate  dragon,  whose  outstretched  wings  and  writhing 
neck  were  in  part  touched  by  their  beams.  The  rest  of  the 
chapel  was  dimly  illuminated  by  the  autumnal  sun,  which 
could  scarce  find  its  way  through  the  stained  panes  of  the 
small  lanceolated  window,  which  was  its  only  aperture  to 
the  open  air.  The  light  fell  doubtful  and  gloomy,  tinged  with 
the  various  hues  through  which  it  passed,  upon  the  stately, 
yet  somewhat  broken  and  dejected,  form  of  the  female,  and  on 
those  of  the  melancholy  and  anxious  father,  and  his  son,  who, 
with  all  the  eager  interest  of  youth,  suspected  and  anticipated 
extraordinary  consequences  from  so  singular  an  interview. 

At  length  the  female  approached  to  the  same  side  of  the 
shrine  with  Arthur  and  his  feither,  as  if  to  be  more  distinctly 


S04  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

heard,  without  being  obliged  to  raise  the  slow,  solemn  voice  in 
which  she  had  spoken. 

*  Do  you  here  worship,'  she  said,  *  the  St.  George  of  Burgundy 
or  the  St.  George  of  Merry  England,  the  flower  of  chivalry  ? ' 

*I  serve,'  said  Philipson,  folding  his  hands  humbly  on  his 
bosom,  *  the  saint  to  whom  this  chapel  is  dedicated,  and  the 
Deity  with  whom  I  hope  for  his  holy  intercession,  whether  here 
or  in  my  native  country.' 

*Ay  —  you,'  said  the  female,  'even  you  can  forget  —  you, 
even  you,  who  have  been  numbered  among  the  mirror  of  knight- 
hood —  can  forget  that  you  have  worshipped  in  the  royal  fane 
of  Windsor  —  that  you  have  there  bent  a  gartered  knee,  where 
kings  and  princes  kneeled  around  you  —  you  can  forget  this, 
and  make  your  orisons  at  a  foreign  shrine,  with  a  heart  undis- 
turbed with  the  thoughts  of  what  you  have  been  —  praying, 
like  some  poor  peasant,  for  bread  and  life  during  the  day  that 
passes  over  you.' 

*  Lady,'  replied  Philipson,  '  in  my  proudest  hours  I  was,  be- 
fore the  Being  to  whom  I  preferred  my  prayers,  but  as  a  worm 
in  the  dust.  In  His  eyes  I  am  now  neither  less  nor  more, 
degraded  as  I  may  be  in  the  opinion  of  my  fellow-reptiles.' 

'  How  canst  thou  think  thus  ? '  said  the  devotee ;  '  and  yet  it 
is  well  with  thee  that  thou  canst.  But  what  have  thy  losses 
been  compared  to  mine  ? ' 

She  put  her  hand  to  her  brow,  and  seemed  for  a  moment 
overpowered  by  agonizing  recollections. 

Arthur  pressed  to  his  father's  side,  and  inquired,  in  a  tone 
of  interest  which  could  not  be  repressed,  *  Father,  who  is  this 
lady  ?     Is  it  my  mother  ? ' 

'  No,  my  son,'  answered  Philipson.  *  Peace,  for  the  sake  of 
all  you  hold  dear  or  holy ! ' 

The  singular  female,  however,  heard  both  the  question  and 
answer,  though  expressed  in  a  whisper. 

'  Yes,'  she  said,  '  young  man,  I  am  —  I  should  say  I  was  — 
your  mother  —  the  mother,  the  protectress,  of  all  that  was 
noble  in  England.     I  am  Margaret  of  Anjou.' 

Arthur  sank  on  his  knees  before  the  dauntless  widow  of 
Henry  the  Sixth,  who  so  long,  and  in  such  desperate  circum- 
stances, upheld,  by  unyielding  courage  and  deep  policy,  the 
sinking  cause  of  her  feeble  husband ;  and  who,  if  she  occasion- 
ally abused  victory  by  cruelty  and  revenge,  had  made  some 
atonement  by  the  indomitable  resolution  with  which  she  had 
supported  the  fiercest  storms  of  adversity.     Arthur  had  been 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  305 

bred  in  devoted  adherence  to  the  now  dethroned  Ime  of  Lan- 
caster, of  which  his  father  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
supporters;  and  his  earliest  deeds  of  arms,  which,  though 
unfortunate,  were  neither  obscure  nor  ignoble,  had  been  done 
in  their  cause.  With  an  enthusiasm  belonging  to  his  age  and 
education,  he  in  the  same  instant  flung  his  bonnet  on  the  pave- 
ment and  knelt  at  the  feet  of  his  ill-fated  sovereign. 

Margaret  threw  back  the  veil  which  concealed  those  noble 
and  majestic  features  which  even  yet,  though  rivers  of  tears 
had  furrowed  her  cheeks,  though  care,  disappointment,  domestic 
grief,  and  humbled  pride  had  quenched  the  fire  of  her  eye,  and 
wasted  the  smooth  dignity  of  her  forehead  —  even  yet  showed 
the  remains  of  that  beauty  which  once  was  held  unequalled  in 
Europe.  The  apathy  with  which  a  succession  of  misfortunes 
and  disappointed  hopes  had  chilled  the  feelings  of  the  unfor- 
tunate princess  was  for  a  moment  melted  by  the  sight  of  the 
fair  youth's  enthusiasm.  She  abandoned  one  hand  to  him, 
which  he  covered  with  tears  and  kisses,  and  with  the  other 
stroked  with  maternal  tenderness  his  curled  locks,  as  she 
endeavoured  to  raise  him  from  the  posture  he  had  assumed. 
His  father,  in  the  meanwhile,  shut  the  door  of  the  chapel  and 
placed  his  back  against  it,  withdrawing  himself  thus  from  the 
group,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  any  stranger  from 
entering  during  a  scene  so  extraordinary. 

*And  thou,  then,'  said  Margaret,  in  a  voice  where  female 
tenderness  combated  strangely  with  her  natural  pride  of  rank, 
and  with  the  calm,  stoical  indifference  induced  by  the  intensity 
of  her  personal  misfortunes  — '  thou,  fair  youth,  art  the  last 
scion  of  the  noble  stem  so  many  fair  boughs  of  which  have 
fallen  in  our  hapless  cause.  Alas  —  alas !  what  can  I  do  for 
thee  ?  Margaret  has  not  even  a  blessing  to  bestow.  So  way- 
ward is  her  fate,  that  her  benedictions  are  curses,  and  she  has 
but  to  look  on  you  and  wish  you  well  to  ensure  your  speedy 
and  utter  ruin.  I  —  I  have  been  the  fatal  poison-tree  whose 
influence  has  blighted  and  destroyed  all  the  fair  plants  that 
arose  beside  and  around  me,  and  brought  death  upon  every 
one,  yet  am  myself  unable  to  find  it ! ' 

*  Noble  and  royal  mistress,'  said  the  elder  Englishman,  *  let 
not  your  princely  courage,  which  has  borne  such  extremities, 
be  dismayed,  now  that  they  are  passed  over,  and  that  a  chance 
at  least  of  happier  times  is  approaching  to  you  and  to 
England.' 

'  To  England,  to  me,  noble  Oxford ! '  said  the  forlorn  and 

VOL.  XXIII  —  20 


306  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

widowed  Queen.  'If  to-morrow's  sun  could  place  me  once 
more  on  the  throne  of  England,  could  it  give  back  to  me  what 
I  have  lost  ?  I  speak  not  of  wealth  or  power ;  they  are  as 
nothing  in  the  balance.  I  speak  not  of  the  hosts  of  noble 
friends  who  have  fallen  in  defence  of  me  and  mine  —  Somersets, 
Percys,  Staffords,  Cliffords ;  they  have  found  their  place  in 
fame,  in  the  annals  of  their  country.  I  speak  not  of  my  hus- 
band ;  he  has  exchanged  the  state  of  a  suffering  saint  upon 
earth  for  that  of  a  glorified  saint  in  Heaven.  But  0,  Oxford, 
my  son  —  my  Edward !  Is  it  possible  for  me  to  look  on  this 
youth,  and  not  remember  that  thy  countess  and  I  on  the  same 
night  gave  birth  to  two  fair  boys  ?  How  offc  we  endeavoured 
to  prophesy  their  future  fortunes,  and  to  persuade  ourselves 
that  the  same  constellation  which  shone  on  their  birth  would 
influence  their  succeeding  life,  and  hold  a  friendly  and  equal 
bias  till  they  reached  some  destined  goal  of  happiness  and 
honour !  Thy  Arthur  lives ;  but,  alas  !  my  Edward,  born  under 
the  same  auspices,  fills  a  bloody  grave.' 

She  wrapped  her  head  in  her  mantle,  as  if  to  stifle  the  com- 
plaints and  groans  which  maternal  affection  poured  forth  at 
these  cruel  recollections.  Philipson,  or  the  exiled  Earl  of 
Oxford,  as  we  may  now  term  him,  distinguished  in  those 
changeful  times  by  the  steadiness  with  which  he  had  always 
maintained  his  loyalty  to  the  line  of  Lancaster,  saw  the  im- 
prudence of  indulging  his  sovereign  in  her  weakness. 

'Royal  mistress,'  he  said,  'life's  journey  is  that  of  a  brief 
winter's  day,  and  its  course  will  run  on  whether  we  avail  our- 
selves of  its  progress  or  no.  My  sovereign  is,  I  trust,  too  much 
mistress  of  herself  to  suffer  lamentation  for  what  is  passed  to 
deprive  her  of  the  power  of  using  the  present  time.  I  am  here 
in  obedience  to  your  command ;  I  am  to  see  Burgundy  forth- 
with, and  if  I  find  him  pliant  to  the  purpose  to  which  we  would 
turn  him,  events  may  follow  which  will  change  into  gladness 
our  present  mourning.  But  we  must  use  our  opportunity  with 
speed  as  well  as  zeal.  Let  me  know,  then,  madam,  for  what 
reason  your  Majesty  hath  come  hither,  disguised  and  in  danger  ? 
Surely  it  was  not  merely  to  weep  over  this  young  man  that  the 
high-minded  Queen  Margaret  left  her  father's  court,  disguised 
herself  in  mean  attire,  and  came  from  a  place  of  safety  to  one 
of  doubt  at  least,  if  not  of  danger  ? ' 

'You  mock  me,  Oxford,'  said  the  unfortunate  Queen,  'or 
you  deceive  yourself,  if  you  think  you  still  serve  that  Margaret 
whose  word  was  never  spoken  without  a  reason,  and  whose 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  307 

slightest  action  was  influenced  by  a  motive.  Alas !  I  am  no 
longer  the  same  firm  and  rational  being.  The  feverish  char- 
acter of  grief,  while  it  makes  one  place  hateful  to  me,  drives 
me  to  another  in  very  impotence  and  impatience  of  spirit.  My 
father's  residence,  thou  sayst,  is  safe;  but  is  it  tolerable  for 
such  a  soul  as  mine  ?  Can  one  who  has  been  deprived  of  the 
noblest  and  richest  kingdom  of  Europe  —  one  who  has  lost  hosts 
of  noble  friends  —  one  who  is  a  widowed  consort,  a  childless 
mother  —  one  upon  whose  head  Heaven  hath  poured  forth  its 
last  vial  of  unmitigated  wrath  —  can  she  stoop  to  be  the  com- 
panion of  a  weak  old  man,  who,  in  sonnets  and  in  music,  in 
mummery  and  folly,  in  harping  and  rhyming,  finds  a  comfort 
for  all  that  poverty  has  that  is  distressing,  and,  what  is  still 
worse,  even  a  solace  in  all  that  is  ridiculous  and  con- 
temptible 1 ' 

*Nay,  with  your  leave,  madam,'  said  her  counsellor,  'blame 
not  the  good  King  Ren^  because,  persecuted  by  fortune,  he  has 
been  able  to  find  out  for  himself  humbler  sources  of  solace, 
which  your  prouder  spirit  is  disposed  to  disdain.  A  contention 
among  his  minstrels  has  for  him  the  animation  of  a  knightly 
combat;  and  a  crown  of  flowers,  twined  by  his  troubadours, 
and  graced  by  their  sonnets,  he  accounts  a  valuable  compensa- 
tion for  the  diadems  of  Jerusalem,  of  Naples,  and  of  both 
Sicilies,  of  which  he  only  possesses  the  empty  titles.' 

*  Speak  not  to  me  of  the  pitiable  old  man,'  said  Margaret  — 
'  sunk  below  even  the  hatred  of  his  worst  enemies,  and  never 
thought  worthy  of  anything  more  than  contempt.  I  tell  thee, 
noble  Oxford,  I  have  been  driven  nearly  mad  with  my  forced 
residence  at  Aix,  in  the  paltry  circle  which  he  calls  his  court. 
My  ears,  tuned  as  they  now  are  only  to  sounds  of  aflliction,  are 
not  so  weary  of  the  eternal  tinkling  of  harps,  and  squeaking  of 
rebecks,  and  snapping  of  castanets ;  my  eyes  are  not  so  tired 
of  the  beggarly  affectation  of  court  ceremonial,  which  is  only 
respectable  when  it  implies  wealth  and  expresses  power  —  as  my 
very  soul  is  sick  of  the  paltry  ambition  which  can  find  pleasure 
in  spangles,  tassels,  and  trumpery,  when  the  reality  of  all  that 
is  great  and  noble  hath  passed  away.  No,  Oxford.  If  I  am 
doomed  to  lose  the  last  cast  which  fickle  fortune  seems  to  offer 
me,  I  will  retreat  into  the  meanest  convent  in  the  Pyrenean 
hills,  and  at  least  escape  the  insult  of  the  idiot  gaiety  of  my 
father.  Let  him  pass  from  our  memory  as  from  the  page  of 
history,  in  which  his  name  will  never  be  recorded.  I  have 
much  of  more  importance  both  to  hear  and  to  tell.     And  now, 


308  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

my  Oxford,  what  news  from  Italy  ?  Will  the  Duke  of  Milan 
afford  us  assistance  with  his  counsels,  or  with  his  treasures  1 ' 

'With  his  counsels  willingly,  madam;  but  how  you  will 
relish  them  I  know  not,  since  he  recommends  to  us  submission 
to  our  hapless  fate,  and  resignation  to  the  will  of  Providence.' 

'  The  wily  Italian !  Will  not,  then,  Galeasso  advance  any 
part  of  his  hoards,  or  assist  a  friend  to  whom  he  hath  in  his 
time  full  often  sworn  faith?' 

'  Not  even  the  diamonds  which  I  offered  to  deposit  in  his 
hands,'  answered  the  Earl,  '  could  make  him  unlock  his  treasury 
to  supply  us  with  ducats  for  our  enterprise.  Yet  he  said,  if 
Charles  of  Burgundy  should  think  seriously  of  an  exertion  in 
our  favour,  such  was  his  regard  for  that  great  prince  and  his 
deep  sense  of  your  Majesty's  misfortunes,  that  he  would  con- 
sider what  the  state  of  his  exchequer,  though  much  exhausted, 
and  the  condition  of  his  subjects,  though  impoverished  by  taxes 
and  talliages,  would  permit  him  to  advance  in  your  behalf.' 

'  The  double-faced  hypocrite ! '  said  Margaret.  *  If  the 
assistance  of  the  princely  Burgunc^  lends  us  a  chance  of 
regaining  what  is  our  own,  then  he  will  give  us  some  paltry 
parcel  of  crowns,  that  our  restored  prosperity  may  forget  his 
indifference  to  our  adversity!  But  what  of  Burgundy?  I 
have  ventured  hither  to  tell  you  what  I  have  learned,  and  to 
hear  report  of  your  proceedings  —  a  trusty  watch  provides  for 
the  secrecy  of  our  interview.  My  impatience  to  see  you  brought 
me  hither  in  this  mean  disguise.  I  have  a  small  retinue  at  a 
convent  a  mile  beyond  the  town  —  I  have  had  your  arrival 
watched  by  the  faithful  Lambert  —  and  now  I  come  to  know 
your  hopes  or  your  fears,  and  to  teU  you  my  own.' 

'Royal  lady,'  said  the  Earl,  'I  have  not  seen  the  Duke. 
You  know  his  temper  to  be  wilful,  sudden,  haughty,  and  un- 
persuadable. If  he  can  adopt  the  calm  and  sustained  policy 
which  the  times  require,  I  little  doubt  his  obtaining  full 
amends  of  Louis,  his  sworn  enemy,  and  even  of  Edward,  his 
ambitious  brother-in-law.  But  if  he  continues  to  yield  to  ex- 
travagant fits  of  passion,  with  or  without  provocation,  he  may 
hurry  into  a  quarrel  with  the  poor  but  hardy  Helvetians,  and 
is  likely  to  engage  in  a  perilous  contest,  in  which  he  cannot  be 
expected  to  gain  anjrthing,  while  he  undergoes  a  chance  of  the 
most  serious  losses.' 

'Surely,'  replied  the  Queen,  'he  will  not  trust  the  usurper 
Edward,  even  in  the  very  moment  when  he  is  giving  the 
greatest  proof  of  treachery  to  his  alliance  ? '      *- 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  309 

*  In  what  respect,  madam  1 '  replied  Oxford.  *  The  news  you 
allude  to  has  not  reached  me.' 

'How,  my  lord?  Am  I  then  the  first  to  tell  you  that 
Edward  of  York  has  crossed  the  sea  with  such  an  army  as 
scarce  even  the  renowned  Henry  V.,  my  father-in-law,  ever 
transported  from  France  to  Italy?' 

'  So  much  I  have  indeed  heard  was  expected,'  said  Oxford ; 

*  and  I  anticipated  the  effect  as  fatal  to  our  cause.' 

'Edward  is  arrived,'  said  Margaret,  'and  the  traitor  and 
usurper  hath  sent  defiance  to  Louis  of  France,  and  demanded 
of  him  the  crown  of  that  kingdom  as  his  own  right  —  that  crown 
which  was  placed  on  the  head  of  my  unhappy  husband,  when 
he  was  yet  a  child  in  the  cradle.' 

'  It  is  then  decided  —  the  English  are  in  France ! '  answered 
Oxford,  in  a  tone  expressive  of  the  deepest  anxiety.  'And 
whom  brings  Edward  with  him  on  this  expedition?' 

'All  —  all  the  bitterest  enemies  of  our  house  and  cause. 
The  false,  the  traitorous,  the  dishonoured  George,  whom  he 
calls  Duke  of  Clarence  —  the  blood-drinker,  Richard  —  the  licen- 
tious Hastings  —  Howard  —  Stanley  —  in  a  word,  the  leaders  of 
all  those  traitors  whom  I  would  not  name,  unless  by  doing  so 
my  curses  could  sweep  them  fi-om  the  face  of  the  earth.' 

'And  —  I  tremble  to  ask,'  said  the  Earl  —  'does  Burgundy 
prepare  to  join  them  as  a  brother  of  the  war,  and  make  common 
cause  with  this  Yorkish  host  against  King  Louis  of  France  ? ' 

'By  my  advices,'  replied  the  Queen,  'and  they  are  both 
private  and  sure,  besides  that  they  are  confirmed  by  the  bruit 
of  common  fame  —  no,  my  good  Oxford  —  no  ! ' 

'  For  that   may  the  saints  be  praised ! '  answered  Oxford. 

*  Edward  of  York  —  I  will  not  malign  even  an  enemy  —  is  a  bold 
and  fearless  leader;  but  he  is  neither  Edward  the  Third  nor 
the  heroic  Black  Prince,  nor  is  he  that  fifth  Henry  of  Lan- 
caster under  whom  I  won  my  spurs,  and  to  whose  lineage  the 
thoughts  of  his  glorious  memory  would  have  made  me  faithful, 
had  my  plighted  vows  of  allegiance  ever  permitted  me  to  enter- 
tain a  thought  of  varying  or  of  defection.  Let  Edward  engage 
in  war  with  Louis  without  the  aid  of  Burgundy,  on  which  he 
has  reckoned.  Louis  is  indeed  no  hero,  but  he  is  a  cautious 
and  skilful  general,  more  to  be  dreaded,  perhaps,  in  these 
politic  days  than  if  Charlemagne  could  again  raise  the  ori- 
flamme,  surrounded  by  Roland  and  all  his  paladins.  Louis 
will  not  hazard  such  fields  as  those  of  Cressy,  of  Poictiers,  or  of 
Agincourt.     With  a  thousand  lances  from  Hainault,  and  twenty 


310  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

thousand  crowns  from  Burgundy,  Edward  shall  risk  the  loss  of 
England,  while  he  is  engaged  in  a  protracted  struggle  for  the 
recovery  of  Normandy  and  Guienne.  But  what  are  the  move- 
ments of  Burgundy  ? ' 

'He  has  menaced  Germany,'  said  Margaret,  *and  his  troops 
are  now  employed  in  overrunning  Lorraine,  of  which  he  has 
seized  the  principal  towns  and  castles.' 

'Where  is  Ferrand  de  Vaudemont  —  a  youth,  it  is  said,  of 
courage  and  enterprise,  and  claiming  Lorraine  in  right  of  his 
mother,  Yolande  of  Anjou,  the  sister  of  your  Grace  1 ' 

*  Fled,'  replied  the  Queen,  'into  Germany  or  Helvetia.' 
'Let  Burgundy  beware  of  him,'  said  the  experienced  Earl; 

'  for,  should  the  disinherited  youth  obtain  confederates  in  Ger- 
many and  allies  among  the  hardy  Swiss,  Charles  of  Burgundy 
may  find  him  a  far  more  formidable  enemy  than  he  expects. 
"We  are  strong  for  the  present  only  in  the  Duke's  strength, 
and  if  it  is  wasted  in  idle  and  desultory  efforts  our  hopes,  alas  ! 
vanish  with  his  power,  even  if  he  should  be  found  to  have  the 
decided  will  to  assist  us.  My  friends  in  England  are  resolute 
not  to  stir  without  men  and  money  from  Burgundy.' 

'It  is  a  fear,'  said  Margaret,  'but  not  our  worst  fear.  I 
dread  more  the  policy  of  Louis,  who,  unless  my  espials  have 
grossly  deceived  me,  has  even  already  proposed  a  secret  peace 
to  Edward,  offering  with  large  sums  of  money  to  purchase 
England  to  the  Yorkists,  and  a  truce  of  seven  years.' 

'  It  cannot  be,'  said  Oxford.  '  No  Englishman,  commanding 
such  an  army  as  Edward  must  now  lead,  dares  for  very  shame 
to  retire  from  France  without  a  manly  attempt  to  recover  his 
lost  provinces.' 

'Such  would  have  been  the  thoughts  of  a  rightful  prince,* 
said  Margaret,  'who  left  behind  him  an  obedient  and  faithful 
kingdom.  Such  may  not  be  the  thoughts  of  this  Edward,  mis- 
named Plantagenet,  base  perhaps  in  mind  as  in  blood,  since 
they  say  his  real  father  was  one  Blackburn,  an  archer  of 
Middleham  —  usurper,  at  least,  if  not  bastard  —  such  will  not 
be  his  thoughts.^  Every  breeze  that  blows  from  England  will 
bring  with  it  apprehensions  of  defection  amongst  those  over 
whom  he  has  usurped  authority.  He  will  not  sleep  in  peace 
till  he  returns  to  England  with  those  cut-throats,  whom  he 
relies  upon  for  the  defence  of  his  stolen  crown.  He  will  engage 
in  no  war  with  Louis,  for  Louis  will  not  hesitate  to  soothe  lus 

*  The  Lancastrian  party  threw  the  imputation  of  bastardy  (which  was 
totally  unfounded)  upon  Edward  IV. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  311 

pride  by  humiliation,  to  gorge  his  avarice  and  pamper  his 
voluptuous  prodigality  by  sums  of  gold ;  and  I  fear  much  we 
shall  soon  hear  of  the  English  army  retiring  from  France  with 
the  idle  boast  that  they  have  displayed  their  banners  once 
more,  for  a  week  or  two,  in  the  provinces  which  were  formerly 
their  own.' 

*  It  the  more  becomes  us  to  be  speedy  in  moving  Burgundy 
to  decision,'  replied  Oxford;  'and  for  that  purpose  I  post  to 
Dijon.  Such  an  army  as  Edward's  cannot  be  transported  over 
the  narrow  seas  in  several  weeks.  The  probability  is  that 
they  must  winter  in  France,  even  if  they  should  have  truce 
with  King  Louis.  With  a  thousand  Hainault  lances  from  the 
eastern  part  of  Flanders,  I  can  be  soon  in  the  North,  where  we 
have  many  friends,  besides  the  assurance  of  help  from  Scotland. 
The  faithful  West  will  rise  at  a  signal  —  a  Clifford  can  be  found, 
though  the  mountain  mists  have  hid  him  from  Richard's 
researches  —  the  Welsh  will  assemble  at  the  rallying  word  of 
Tudor  —  the  Red  Rose  raises  its  head  once  more  —  and  so,  God 
save  King  Henry  ! ' 

'  Alas  ! '  said  the  Queen.  *  But  no  husband  —  no  friend  of 
mine  — the  son  but  of  my  mother-in-law  by  a  Welsh  chieftain 
—  cold,  they  say,  and  crafty.  But  be  it  so  —  let  me  only  see 
Lancaster  triumph  and  obtain  revenge  upon  York,  and  I  will 
die  contented ! ' 

*It  is  then  your  pleasure  that  I  should  make  the  proffers 
expressed  by  your  Grace's  former  mandates,  to  induce  Bur- 
gundy to  stir  himself  in  our  cause  ?  If  he  learns  the  proposal 
of  a  truce  betwixt  France  and  England,  it  will  sting  sharper 
than  aught  I  can  say.' 

'  Promise  all,  however,'  said  the  Queen.  *  I  know  his  inmost 
soul :  it  is  set  upon  extending  the  dominions  of  his  house  in 
every  direction.  For  this  he  has  seized  GueJdres  —  for  this  he 
now  overruns  and  occupies  Lorraine  —  for  this  he  covets  such 
poor  remnants  of  Provence  as  my  father  still  calls  his  own. 
With  such  augmented  territories,  he  proposes  to  exchange  his 
ducal  diadem  for  an  arched  crown  of  independent  sovereignty. 
Tell  the  Duke,  Margaret  can  assist  his  views ;  tell  him  that 
my  father  Ren^  shall  disown  the  opposition  made  to  the  Duke's 
seizure  of  Lorraine  —  he  shall  do  more,  he  shall  declare  Charles 
his  heir  in  Provence,  with  my  ample  consent ;  tell  him,  the  old 
man  shall  cede  his  dominions  to  him  upon  the  instant  that  his 
Hainaulters  embark  for  England,  some  small  pension  deducted 
to  maintain  a  concert  of  fiddlers  and  a  troop  of  morrice-dancers. 


312  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

These  are  Rent's  only  earthly  wants.  Mine  are  still  fewer. 
Revenge  upon  York,  and  a  speedy  grave  !  For  the  paltry  gold 
which  we  may  need,  thou  hast  jewels  to  pledge.  For  the  other 
conditions,  security  if  required.' 

*For  these,  madam,  I  can  pledge  my  knightly  word,  in 
addition  to  your  royal  faith ;  and  if  more  is  required,  my  son 
shall  be  a  hostage  with  Burgundy.' 

*  Oh  no  —  no  ! '  exclaimed  the  dethroned  Queen,  touched  by 
perhaps  the  only  tender  feeling  which  repeated  and  extraordi- 
nary misfortunes  had  not  chilled  into  insensibility.  '  Hazard 
not  the  life  of  the  noble  youth  —  he  that  is  the  last  of  the  loyal 
and  faithful  house  of  Vere  —  he  that  should  have  been  the 
brother  in  arms  of  my  beloved  Edward  —  he  that  had  so  nearly 
been  his  companion  in  a  bloody  and  untimely  grave !  Do 
not  involve  this  poor  child  in  these  fatal  intrigues,  which  have 
been  so  baneful  to  his  family.  Let  him  go  with  me.  Him  at 
least  I  will  shelter  from  danger  whilst  I  Eve,  and  provide  for 
when  I  am  no  more.' 

*  Forgive  me,  madam,'  said  Oxford,  with  the  firmness  which 
distinguished  him.  *My  son,  as  you  deign  to  recollect,  is  a 
De  Vere,  destined,  perhaps,  to  be  the  last  of  his  name.  Fall 
he  may,  but  it  must  not  be  without  honour.  To  whatever 
dangers  his  duty  and  allegiance  call  him,  be  it  from  sword  or 
lance,  axe  or  gibbet,  to  these  he  must  expose  himself  frankly, 
when  his  doing  so  can  mark  his  allegiance.  His  ancestors  have 
shown  him  how  to  brave  them  all.' 

*True  —  true,'  exclaimed  the  unfortunate  Queen,  raising  her 
arms  wildly.  '  All  must  perish  —  all  that  have  honoured  Lan- 
caster —  aU  that  have  loved  Margaret,  or  whom  she  has  loved  ! 
The  destruction  must  be  universal  —  the  young  must  fall  with 
the  old  —  not  a  lamb  of  the  scattered  flock  shall  escape  ! ' 

*For  God's  sake,  gracious  madam,'  said  Oxford,  'compose 
yourself!     I  hear  them  knock  on  the  chapel  door.' 

*  It  is  the  signal  of  parting,'  said  the  exiled  Queen,  collecting 
herself.  *  Do  not  fear,  noble  Oxford,  I  am  not  often  thus ;  but 
how  seldom  do  I  see  those  friends  whose  faces  and  voices  can 
disturb  the  composure  of  my  despair !  Let  me  tie  this  relic 
about  thy  neck,  good  youth,  and  fear  not  its  evil  influence, 
though  you  receive  it  from  an  ill-omened  hand.  It  was 
my  husband's,  blessed  by  many  a  prayer,  and  sanctified  by 
many  a  holy  tear;  even  my  unhappy  hands  cannot  poUute 
it.  I  should  have  bound  it  on  my  Edward's  bosom  on  the 
dreadful  morning  of  Tewkesbury  fight;  but  he  armed  early 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  313 

—  went  to  the  field  without  seeing  me,  and  all  my  purpose  was 
vain.' 

She  passed  a  golden  chain  round  Arthur's  neck  as  she  spoke, 
which  contained  a  small  gold  crucifix  of  rich  but  barbarous 
manufacture.  It  had  belonged,  said  tradition,  to  Edward  the 
Confessor.     The  knock  at  the  door  of  the  chapel  was  repeated. 

*  We  must  not  tarry,'  said  Margaret ;  '  let  us  part  here  —  you 
for  Dijon,  I  to  Aix,  my  abode  of  unrest  in  Provence.  Fare- 
well ;  we  may  meet  in  a  better  hour  —  yet  how  can  I  hope  it  ? 
Thus  I  said  on  the  morning  before  the  fight  of  St.  Albans  — 
thus  on  the  dark  dawning  of  Towton  —  thus  on  the  yet  more 
bloody  field  of  Tewkesbury  —  and  what  was  the  event  ?  Yet 
hope  is  a  plant  which  cannot  be  rooted  out  of  a  noble  breast 
till  the  last  heart-string  crack  as  it  is  pulled  away.' 

So  saying,  she  passed  through  the  chapel  door,  and  mingled 
in  the  miscellaneous  assemblage  of  personages  who  worshipped, 
or  indulged  their  curiosity,  or  consumed  their  idle  hours,  amongst 
the  aisles  of  the  cathedral. 

Philipson  and  his  son,  both  deeply  impressed  with  the  singular 
interview  which  had  just  taken  place,  returned  to  their  inn, 
where  they  found  a  pursuivant,  with  the  Duke  of  Burgundy's 
badge  and  livery,  who  informed  them  that,  if  they  were  the 
English  merchants  who  were  carrying  wares  of  value  to  the 
court  of  the  Duke,  he  had  orders  to  aff'ord  them  the  countenance 
of  his  escort  and  inviolable  character.  Under  his  protection 
they  set  out  fi-om  Strasburg ;  but  such  was  the  uncertainty  of 
the  Duke  of  Burgundy's  motions,  and  such  the  numerous 
obstacles  which  occurred  to  interrupt  their  journey,  in  a  country 
disturbed  by  the  constant  passage  of  troops  and  preparation  for 
war,  that  it  was  evening  on  the  second  day  ere  they  reached 
the  plain  near  Dijon  on  which  the  whole,  or  great  part,  of  his 
power  lay  encamped. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

Thus  said  the  Duke — thus  did  the  Duke  infer. 

BicJiard  IIL 

THE  eyes  of  the  elder  traveller  were  well  accustomed  to 
sights  of  martial  splendour,  yet  even  he  was  dazzled 
with  the  rich  and  glorious  display  of  the  Burgundian 
camp,  in  which,  near  the  walls  of  Dijon,  Charles,  the  wealthiest 
prince  in  Europe,  had  displayed  his  own  extravagance,  and  en- 
couraged his  followers  to  similar  profusion.  The  pavilions  of 
the  meanest  officers  were  of  silk  and  samite,  while  those  of  the 
nobility  and  great  leaders  glittered  with  cloth  of  silver,  cloth  of 
gold,  variegated  tapestry,  and  other  precious  materials,  which 
in  no  other  situation  would  have  been  employed  as  a  cover 
from  the  weather,  but  would  themselves  have  been  thought 
worthy  of  the  most  careful  protection.  The  horsemen  and 
infantry  who  mounted  guard  were  arrayed  in  the  richest  and 
most  gorgeous  armour.  A  beautiful  and  very  numerous  train 
of  artillery  was  drawn  up  near  the  entrance  of  the  camp,  and 
in  its  commander  Philipson  (to  give  the  Earl  the  travelling 
name  to  which  our  readers  are  accustomed)  recognised  Henry 
Colvin,  an  Englishman  of  inferior  birth,  but  distinguished  for 
his  skill  in  conducting  these  terrible  engines  which  had  of  late 
come  into  general  use  in  war.  The  banners  and  pennons  which 
were  displayed  by  every  knight,  baron,  and  man  of  rank  floated 
before  their  tents,  and  the  owners  of  these  transitory  dwellings 
sat  at  the  door  half-armed,  and  enjoyed  the  military  contests 
of  the  soldiers,  in  wrestling,  pitching  the  bar,  and  other  athletic 
exercises. 

~  Long  rows  of  the  noblest  horses  were  seen  at  picquet, 
prancing  and  tossing  their  heads,  as  impatient  of  the  inactiv- 
ity to  which  they  were  confined,  or  were  heard  neighing  over 
the  provender  which  was  spread  plentifully  before  them.  The 
soldiers  formed  joyous  groups  around  the  minstrels  and  stroll- 
ing jugglers,  or  were  engaged  in  drinking-parties  at  the  sutlers' 
tents ;  others  strolled  about  with  folded  arms,  casting  their 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  315 

eyes  now  and  then  to  the  sinking  sun,  as  if  desirous  that  the 
hour  should  arrive  which  would  put  an  end  to  a  day  unoccu- 
pied, and  therefore  tedious. 

At  length  the  travellers  reached,  amidst  the  dazzling 
varieties  of  this  military  display,  the  pavilion  of  the  Duke  him- 
self, before  which  floated  heavily  in  the  evening  breeze  the 
broad  and  rich  banner  in  which  glowed  the  armorial  bearings 
and  quarterings  of  a  prince,  duke  of  six  provinces,  and  count 
of  fifteen  counties,  who  was,  from  his  power,  his  disposition, 
and  the  success  which  seemed  to  attend  his  enterprises,  the 
general  dread  of  Europe.  The  pursuivant  made  himself  known 
to  some  of  the  household,  and  the  Englishmen  were  imme- 
diately received  with  courtesy,  though  not  such  as  to  draw 
attention  upon  them,  and  conveyed  to  a  neighbouring  tent,  the 
residence  of  a  general  officer,  which  they  were  given  to  under- 
stand was  destined  for  their  accommodation,  and  where  their 
packages  accordingly  were  deposited,  and  refreshments  offered 
them. 

'As  the  camp  is  filled,'  said  the  domestic  who  waited  upon 
them,  '  with  soldiers  of  different  nations  and  uncertain  dis- 
positions, the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  for  the  safety  of  your  mer- 
chandise, has  ordered  you  the  protection  of  a  regular  sentinel. 
In  the  meantime,  be  in  readiness  to  wait  on  his  Highness, 
seeing  you  may  look  to  be  presently  sent  for.' 

Accordingly,  the  elder  Philipson  was  shortly  after  summoned 
to  the  Duke's  presence,  introduced  by  a  back  entrance  into  the 
ducal  pavilion,  and  into  that  part  of  it  which,  screened  by  close 
curtains  and  wooden  barricades,  formed  Charles's  own  separate 
apartment.  The  plainness  of  the  furniture,  and  the  coarse 
apparatus  of  the  Duke's  toilette,  formed  a  strong  contrast  to 
the  appearance  of  the  exterior  of  the  pavilion ;  for  Charles, 
whose  character  was,  in  that  as  in  other  things,  far  from  con- 
sistent, exhibited  in  his  own  person  during  war  an  austerity,  or 
rather  coarseness,  of  dress,  and  sometimes  of  manners  also,  which 
was  more  like  the  rudeness  of  a  German  lanzknecht  than  the 
bearing  of  a  prince  of  exalted  rank ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  he 
encouraged  and  enjoined  a  great  splendour  of  expense  and  dis- 
play amongst  his  vassals  and  courtiers,  as  if  to  be  rudely  attired, 
and  to  despise  every  restraint,  even  of  ordinary  ceremony,  were 
a  privilege  of  the  sovereign  alone.  Yet,  when  it  pleased  him  to 
assume  state  in  person  and  manners,  none  knew  better  than 
Charles  of  Burgundy  how  he  ought  to  adorn  and  demean  himself. 

Upon  his  toilette  appeared  brushes  and  combs  which  might 


S16  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

have  claimed  dismissal  as  past  the  term  of  service,  overworn 
hats  and  doublets,  dog-leashes,  leather  belts,  and  other  such 
paltry  articles;  amongst  which  lay  at  random,  as  it  seemed, 
the  great  diamond  called  Sanci,  the  three  rubies  termed  the 
Three  Brothers  of  Antwerp,  another  great  diamond  called  the 
Lamp  of  Flanders,  and  other  precious  stones  of  scarcely  inferior 
value  and  rarity.  This  extraordinary  display  somewhat  re- 
sembled the  character  of  the  Duke  himself,  who  mixed  cruelty 
with  justice,  magnanimity  with  meanness  of  spirit,  economy 
with  extravagance,  and  liberality  with  avarice ;  being,  in  fact, 
consistent  in  nothing  excepting  in  his  obstinate  determination 
to  follow  the  opinion  he  had  once  formed,  in  every  situation  of 
things,  and  through  all  variety  of  risks. 

In  the  midst  of  the  valueless  and  inestimable  articles  of  his 
wardrobe  and  toilette,  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  called  out  to  the 
English  traveller,  '  Welcome,  Herr  Philipson  —  welcome,  you  of 
a  nation  whose  traders  are  princes,  and  their  merchants  the 
mighty  ones  of  the  earth.  What  new  commodities  have  you 
brought  to  gull  us  with  ?  You  merchants,  by  St.  George,  are 
a  wily  generation.' 

'  Faith,  no  new  merchandise  I,  my  lord,'  answered  the  elder 
Englishman  :  *  I  bring  but  the  commodities  which  I  showed 
your  Highness  the  last  time  I  communicated  with  you,  in  the 
hope  of  a  poor  trader  that  your  Grace  may  find  them  more 
acceptable  upon  a  review  than  when  you  first  saw  them.' 

*  It  is  well.  Sir  —  Philipville,  I  think  they  call  you  ?  You  are 
a  simple  trader,  or  you  take  me  for  a  silly  purchaser,  that  you 
think  to  gull  me  with  the  same  wares  which  I  fancied  not 
formerly.  Change  of  fashion,  man  —  novelty  —  is  the  motto  of 
commerce;  your  Lancaster  wares  have  had  their  day,  and  I 
have  bought  of  them  like  others,  and  was  like  enough  to  have 
paid  dear  for  them  too.     York  is  all  the  vogue  now.' 

*  It  may  be  so  among  the  vulgar,'  said  the  Earl  of  Oxford ; 
*but  for  souls  like  your  Highness  faith,  honour,  and  loyalty 
are  jewels  which  change  of  fancy  or  mutability  of  taste  cannot 
put  out  of  fashion.' 

'Why,  it  may  be,  noble  Oxford,' said  the  Duke,  Hhat  I 
preserve  in  my  secret  mind  some  veneration  for  these  old- 
fashioned  qualities,  else  how  should  I  have  such  regard  for  your 
person,  in  which  they  have  ever  been  distinguished  1  But  my 
situation  is  painfully  urgent,  and  should  I  make  a  false  step  at 
this  crisis,  I  might  break  the  purposes  of  my  whole  life.  Observe 
me,  sir  merchant.     Here  has  come  over  your  old  competitor, 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  317 

Blackburn,  whom  some  call  Edward  of  York  and  of  London, 
with  a  commodity  of  bows  and  bills  such  as  never  entered 
France  since  King  Arthur's  time ;  and  he  offers  to  enter  into 
joint  adventure  with  me,  or,  in  plain  speech,  to  make  common 
cause  with  Burgundy,  till  we  smoke  out  of  his  earths  the  old 
fox  Louis,  and  nail  his  hide  to  the  stable-door.  In  a  word, 
England  invites  me  to  take  part  with  him  against  my  most 
wily  and  inveterate  enemy,  the  King  of  France ;  to  rid  myself 
of  the  chain  of  vassalage,  and  to  ascend  into  the  rank  of  inde- 
pendent princes ;  how  think  you,  noble  earl,  can  I  forego  this 
seducing  temptation?' 

'  You  must  ask  this  of  some  of  your  counsellors  of  Burgundy,' 
said  Oxford  ;  '  it  is  a  question  fraught  too  deeply  with  ruin  to 
my  cause  for  me  to  give  a  fair  opinion  on  it.' 

'  Nevertheless,'  said  Charles,  '  I  ask  thee,  as  an  honourable 
man,  what  objections  you  see  to  the  course  proposed  to  me  ? 
Speak  your  mind,  and  speak  it  freely.' 

*  My  lord,  I  know  it  is  in  your  Highness's  nature  to  enter- 
tain no  doubts  of  the  facility  of  executing  anything  which  you 
have  once  determined  shall  be  done.  Yet,  though  this  prince- 
like disposition  may  in  some  cases  prepare  for  its  own  success, 
and  has  often  done  so,  there  are  others  in  which,  persisting  in 
our  purpose,  merely  because  we  have  once  willed  it,  leads  not 
to  success,  but  to  ruin.  Look,  therefore,  at  this  English  army. 
Winter  is  approaching,  where  are  they  to  be  lodged  1  how  are 
they  to  be  victualled  ?  by  whom  are  they  to  be  paid  1  Is  your 
Highness  to  take  all  the  expense  and  labour  of  fitting  them  for 
the  summer  campaign  ?  for,  rely  on  it,  an  English  army  never 
was,  nor  will  be,  fit  for  service  till  they  have  been  out  of  their 
own  island  long  enough  to  accustom  them  to  military  duty. 
They  are  men,  I  grant,  the  fittest  for  soldiers  in  the  world,  but 
they  are  not  soldiers  as  yet,  and  must  be  trained  to  become  such 
at  your  Highness's  expense.' 

'  Be  it  so,'  said  Charles ;  *  I  think  the  Low  Countries  can 
find  food  for  the  beef-consuming  knaves  for  a  few  weeks,  and 
villages  for  them  to  lie  in,  and  officers  to  train  their  sturdy 
limbs  to  war,  and  provost-marshals  enough  to  reduce  their 
refractory  spirit  to  discipline.' 

'  What  happens  next  f '  said  Oxford.  *  You  march  to  Paris, 
add  to  Edward's  usurped  power  another  kingdom,  restore  to 
him  all  the  possessions  which  England  ever  had  in  France,  Nor- 
mandy, Maine,  Anjou,  Gascony,  and  all  besides  —  can  you  trust 
this  Edward  when  you  shall  have  thus  fostered  his  strength, 


318  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

and  made  him  far  stronger  than  this  Louis  whom  you  have 
united  to  pull  down  ? ' 

'  By  St.  George,  I  will  not  dissemble  with  you !  It  is  in 
that  very  point  that  my  doubts  trouble  me.  Edward  is  indeed 
my  brother-in-law,  but  I  am  a  man  little  inclined  to  put  my 
head  under  my  wife's  girdle.' 

'And  the  times,'  said  Philipson,  'have  too  often  shown  the 
inefficiency  of  family  alliances  to  prevent  the  most  gross 
breaches  of  faith.' 

*  You  say  well,  earl.  Clarence  betrayed  his  father-in-law ; 
Louis  poisoned  his  brother.  Domestic  affections,  pshaw  !  they 
sit  warm  enough  by  a  private  man's  fireside,  but  they  cannot 
come  into  fields  of  battle,  or  princes'  halls,  where  the  wind 
blows  cold.  No,  my  alliance  with  Edward  by  marriage  were 
little  succour  to  me  in  time  of  need.  I  would  as  soon  ride  an 
unbroken  horse,  with  no  better  bridle  than  a  lady's  garter. 
But  what  then  is  the  result  1  He  wars  on  Louis ;  whichever 
gains  the  better,  I,  who  must  be  strengthened  in  their  mutual 
weakness,  receive  the  advantage.  The  Englishmen  slay  the 
French  with  their  cloth-yard  shafts,  and  the  Frenchmen,  by 
skirmishes,  waste,  weaken,  and  destroy  the  English.  With 
spring  I  take  the  field  with  an  army  superior  to  both,  and  then, 
St.  George  for  Burgundy ! ' 

*And  if,  in  the  meanwhile,  your  Highness  will  deign  to 
assist,  even  in  the  most  trifling  degree,  a  cause  the  most 
honourable  that  ever  knight  laid  lance  in  rest  for,  a  moderate 
sum  of  money,  and  a  small  body  of  Hainault  lances,  who  may 
gain  both  fame  and  fortune  by  the  service,  may  replace  the 
injured  heir  of  Lancaster  in  the  possession  of  his  native  and 
rightful  dominion.' 

*Ay,  marry,  sir  earl,'  said  the  Duke,  *you  come  roundly  to 
the  point ;  but  we  have  seen,  and  indeed  partly  assisted  at,  so 
many  turns  betwixt  York  and  Lancaster,  that  we  have  some 
doubt  which  is  the  side  to  which  Heaven  has  given  the  right, 
and  the  inclinations  of  the  people  the  effectual  power ;  we  are 
surprised  into  absolute  giddiness  by  so  many  extraordinary 
revolutions  of  fortune  as  England  has  exhibited.' 

'  A  proof,  my  lord,  that  these  mutations  are  not  yet  ended, 
and  that  your  generous  aid  may  give  to  the  better  side  an 
effectual  turn  of  advantage.' 

'And  lend  my  cousin,  Margaret  of  Anjou,  my  arm  to  de- 
throne my  wife's  brother?  Perhaps  he  deserves  small  good- 
will at  my  hands,  since  he  and  his  insolent  nobles  have  been 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  319 

urging  me  with  remonstrances,  and  even  threats,  to  lay  aside 
all  my  own  important  affairs,  and  join  Edward,  forsooth,  in  his 
knight-errant  expedition  against  Louis.  I  will  march  against 
Louis  at  my  own  time,  and  not  sooner ;  and,  by  St.  George  ! 
neither  island  king  nor  island  noble  shall  dictate  to  Charles  of 
Burgundy.  You  are  fine  conceited  companions,  you  English  of 
both  sides,  that  think  the  matters  of  your  own  bedlam  island 
are  as  interesting  to  all  the  world  as  to  yourselves.  But 
neither  York  nor  Lancaster,  neither  brother  Blackburn  nor 
cousin  Margaret  of  Anjou,  not  with  John  de  Vere  to  back  her, 
shall  gull  me.     Men  lure  no  hawks  with  empty  hands.' 

Oxford,  familiar  with  the  Duke's  disposition,  suffered  him 
to  exhaust  himself  in  chafing,  that  any  one  should  pretend  to 
dictate  his  course  of  conduct,  and,  when  he  was  at  length  silent, 
replied  with  calmness  —  'Do  I  live  to  hear  the  noble  Duke  of 
Burgundy,  the  mirror  of  European  chivalry,  say  that  no  reason 
has  been  shown  to  him  for  an  adventure  where  a  helpless  queen 
is  to  be  redressed  —  a  royal  house  raised  from  the  dust  ?  Is 
there  not  immortal  los  and  honour  —  the  trumpet  of  fame  to 
proclaim  the  sovereign  who,  alone  in  a  degenerate  age,  has 
united  the  duties  of  a  generous  knight  with  those  of  a  princely 
sovereign ' 

The  Duke  interrupted  him,  striking  him  at  the  same  time 
on  the  shoulder  —  '  And  King  Bend's  five  hundred  fiddlers  to 
tune  their  cracked  violins  in  my  praise,  and  King  Rend  him- 
self to  listen  to  them,  and  say,  "Well  fought,  Duke  —  well 
played,  fiddler"?  I  tell  thee,  John  of  Oxford,  when  thou 
and  I  wore  maiden  armour,  such  words  as  fame,  honour,  los, 
knightly  glory,  lady's  love,  and  so  forth,  were  good  mottoes  for 
our  snow-white  shields,  and  a  fair  enough  argument  for  splin- 
tering lances  —  ay,  and  in  tilt-yard,  though  somewhat  old  for 
these  fierce  follies,  I  would  jeopard  my  person  in  such  a  quarrel 
yet,  as  becomes  a  knight  of  the  order ;  but  when  we  come  to 
pa3dng  down  of  crowns,  and  embarking  of  large  squadrons,  we 
must  have  to  propose  to  our  subjects  some  substantial  excuse 
for  plunging  them  in  war  —  some  proposal  for  the  public  good 
—  or,  by  St.  George  !  for  our  own  private  advantage,  which  is 
the  same  thing.  This  is  the  course  the  world  runs,  and, 
Oxford,  to  tell  the  plain  truth,  I  mean  to  hold  the  same  bias.' 

'  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  expect  your  Highness  to  act 
otherwise  than  with  a  view  to  your  subjects'  welfare  —  the  in- 
crease, that  is,  as  your  Grace  happily  expresses  it,  of  your  own 
power  and  dominion.     The  money  we  require  is  not  in  benev- 


8^0  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

olence,  but  in  loan ;  and  Margaret  is  willing  to  deposit  these 
jewels,  of  which  I  think  your  Grace  knows  the  value,  till  she 
shall  repay  the  sum  whicn  your  friendship  may  advance  in  her 
necessity.' 

'  Ha,  ha ! '  said  the  Duke,  *  would  our  cousin  make  a  pawn- 
broker of  us,  and  have  us  deal  with  her  like  a  Jewish  usurer 
with  his  debtor?  Yet,  in  faith,  Oxford,  we  may  need  the 
diamonds,  for  if  this  business  were  otherwise  feasible,  it  is  pos- 
sible that  I  myself  must  become  a  borrower  to  aid  my  cousin's 
necessities.  1  have  applied  to  the  states  of  the  duchy,  who 
are  now  sitting,  and  expect,  as  is  reasonable,  a  large  supply. 
But  there  are  restless  heads  and  close  hands  among  them,  and 
they  may  be  niggardly.  So  place  the  jewels  on  the  table  in  the 
meanwhile.  Well,  say  I  am  to  be  no  sufferer  in  purse  by  this 
feat  of  knight-errantry  which  you  propose  to  me,  still  princes 
enter  not  into  war  without  some  view  of  advantage  1 ' 

'  Listen  to  me,  noble  sovereign.  You  are  naturally  bent  to 
unite  the  great  estates  of  your  father  and  those  you  have 
acquired  by  your  own  arms  into  a  compact  and  firm  duke- 
dom  ' 

*  Call  it  kingdom,'  said  Charles  ;  *  it  is  the  worthier  word.' 
'Into  a  kingdom,  of  which  the  crown  shall  sit  as  fair  and 

even  on  your  Grace's  brow  as  that  of  France  on  your  present 
suzerain,  Louis.' 

'  It  needs  not  such  shrewdness  as  yours  to  descry  that  such 
is  my  purpose,'  said  the  Duke;  'else,  wherefore  am  I  here 
with  helm  on  my  head  and  sword  by  my  side  ?  And  where- 
fore are  my  troops  seizing  on  the  strong  places  in  Lorraine, 
and  chasing  before  them  the  beggarly  De  Vaudemont,  who  has 
the  insolence  to  claim  it  as  his  inheritance  1  Yes,  my  friend, 
the  aggrandisement  of  Burgundy  is  a  theme  for  which  the 
duke  of  that  fair  province  is  bound  to  fight,  while  he  can  put 
foot  in  stirrup.' 

*But  think  you  not,'  said  the  English  earl,  'since  you 
allow  me  to  speak  freely  with  your  Grace  on  the  footing  of  old 
acquaintanceship  —  think  you  not  that  in  this  chart  of  your 
dominions,  otherwise  so  fairly  bounded,  there  is  something  on 
the  southern  frontier  which  might  be  arranged  more  advantage- 
ously for  a  King  of  Burgundy  'i ' 

*  I  cannot  guess  whither  you  would  lead  me,'  said  the  Duke, 
looking  at  a  map  of  the  duchy  and  his  other  possessions,  to 
which  the  Englishman  had  pointed  his  attention,  and  then 
turning  his  broad  keen  eye  upon  the  face  of  the  banished  earl. 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  SSI 

*I  would  say,'  replied  the  latter,  'that,  to  so  powerful  a 
prince  as  your  Grace,  there  is  no  safe  neighbour  but  the  sea. 
Here  is  Provence,  which  interferes  betwixt  you  and  the  Medi- 
terranean—  Provence,  with  its  princely  harbours  and  fertile 
cornfields  and  vineyards.  Were  it  not  well  to  include  it  in 
your  map  of  sovereignty,  and  thus  touch  the  middle  sea  with 
one  hand,  while  the  other  rested  on  the  sea-coast  of  Flanders  ? ' 

'  Provence,  said  you  ? '  replied  the  Duke,  eagerly ;  *  why, 
man,  my  very  dreams  are  of  Provence.  I  cannot  smell  an 
orange  but  it  reminds  me  of  its  perfumed  woods  and  bowers, 
its  olives,  citrons,  and  pomegranates.  But  how  to  frame  pre- 
tensions to  it  1  Shame  it  were  to  disturb  Ren^,  the  harmless 
old  man,  nor  would  it  become  a  near  relation.  Then  he  is  the 
uncle  of  Louis ;  and  most  probably,  failing  his  daughter  Mar- 
garet, or  perhaps  in  preference  to  her,  he  hath  named  the 
French  king  his  heir.' 

'  A  better  claim  might  be  raised  up  in  your  Grace's  own 
person,'  said  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  *  if  you  will  afford  Margaret  of 
Anjou  the  succour  she  requires  by  me.' 

'Take  the  aid  thou  requirest,'  replied  the  Duke — *take 
double  the  amount  of  it  in  men  and  money !  Let  me  but  have 
a  claim  upon  Provence,  though  thin  as  a  single  thread  of  thy 
Queen  Margaret's  hair,  and  let  me  alone  for  twisting  it  into  the 
tough  texture  of  a  quadruple  cable.  But  I  am  a  fool  to  listen 
to  the  dreams  of  one  who,  ruined  himself,  can  lose  little  by 
holding  forth  to  others  the  most  extravagant  hopes.' 

Charles  breathed  high,  and  changed  complexion  as  he  spoke. 

*  I  am  not  such  a  person,  my  Lord  Duke,'  said  the  Earl. 
*  Listen  to  me  —  Ren^  is  broken  with  years,  fond  of  repose,  and 
too  poor  to  maintain  his  rank  with  the  necessary  dignity ;  too 
good-natured,  or  too  feeble-minded,  to  lay  farther  imposts  on 
his  subjects ;  weary  of  contending  with  bad  fortune,  and  desir- 
ous to  resign  his  territories ' 

*  His  territories  ! '  said  Charles. 

*  Yes,  all  he  actually  possesses,  and  the  much  more  extensive 
dominions  which  he  has  claim  to,  but  which  have  passed  from 
his  sway.' 

*  You  take  away  my  breath !  *  said  the  Duke.  *  Ren^  resign 
Provence  I  And  what  says  Margaret  —  the  proud,  the  high- 
minded  Margaret  —  will  she  subscribe  to  so  humiliating  a 
proceeding  ? ' 

*For  the  chance  of  seeing  Lancaster  triumph  in  England, 
she  would  resign,  not  only  dominion,  but  life  itself.     And  in 

VOL.  XXIII 21 


322  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

truth  the  sacrifice  is  less  than  it  may  seem  to  be.  It  is  certain 
that,  when  Een^  dies,  the  King  of  France  will  claim  the  old 
man's  county  of  Provence  as  a  male  fief,  and  there  is  no  one 
strong  enough  to  back  Margaret's  claim  of  inheritance,  however 
just  it  may  be.' 

*  It  is  just,'  said  Charles  —  *  it  is  undeniable !  I  will  not  hear 
of  its  being  denied  or  challenged  —  that  is,  when  once  it  is 
established  in  our  own  person.  It  is  the  true  principle  of  the 
war  for  the  public  good,  that  none  of  the  great  fiefs  be  suffered 
to  revert  again  to  the  crown  of  France,  least  of  all  while  it 
stands  on  a  brow  so  astucious  and  unprincipled  as  that  of 
Louis.  Burgundy  joined  to  Provence  —  a  dominion  fi-om  the 
German  Ocean  to  the  Mediterranean !  Oxford,  thou  art  my 
better  angel ! ' 

'Your  Grace  must,  however,  reflect,'  said  Oxford,  'that 
honourable  provision  must  be  made  for  King  Ren^.' 

'  Certainly,  man  —  certainly  :  he  shall  have  a  score  of  fiddlers 
and  jugglers  to  play,  roar,  and  recite  to  him  fi'om  morning  tiU 
night.  He  shall  have  a  court  of  troubadours,  who  shall  do 
nothing  but  drink,  flute,  and  fiddle  to  him,  and  pronounce 
arrests  of  love,  to  be  confirmed  or  reversed  by  an  appeal  to 
himself,  the  supreme  roi  d'amour.  And  Margaret  shall  also 
be  honourably  sustained,  in  the  manner  you  may  point  out.' 

'That  will  be  easily  settled,'  answered  the  English  earl. 
'  If  our  attempts  on  England  succeed,  she  will  need  no  aid  fi:om 
Burgundy.  If  she  fails,  she  retires  into  a  cloister,  and  it  will 
not  be  long  that  she  will  need  the  honourable  maintenance 
which,  I  am  sure,  your  Grace's  generosity  will  willingly  assign 
her.' 

'Unquestionably,'  answered  Charles,  'and  on  a  scale  which 
will  become  us  both ;  but,  by  my  halidome,  John  of  Vere,  the 
abbess  into  whose  cloister  Margaret  of  Anjou  shall  retire  will 
have  an  ungovernable  penitent  under  her  charge.  Well  do  I 
know  her;  and,  sir  earl,  I  will  not  clog  our  discourse  by 
expressing  any  doubts  that,  if  she  pleases,  she  can  compel  her 
fatner  to  resign  his  estates  to  whomsoever  she  will.  She  is 
like  my  brache,  Gorgon,  who  compels  whatsoever  hound  is 
coupled  with  her  to  go  the  way  she  chooses,  or  she  strangles 
him  if  he  resists.  So  has  Margaret  acted  with  her  simple- 
minded  husband,  and  I  am  aware  that  her  father,  a  fool  of  a 
different  cast,  must  of  necessity  be  equally  tractable.  I  think 
/  could  have  matched  her,  though  my  very  neck  aches  at  the 
thought  of  the  struggles  we  should  have  had  for  mastery.    But 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  323 

you  look  grave,  because  I  jest  with  the  pertinacious  temper  of 
my  unhappy  cousin.' 

'My  lord,'  said  Oxford,  'whatever  are  or  have  been  the  de- 
fects of  my  mistress,  she  is  in  distress,  and  almost  in  desolation. 
She  is  my  sovereign,  and  your  Highness's  cousin  not  the  less.' 

'Enough  said,  sir  earl,'  answered  the  Duke.  'Let  us  speak 
seriously.  Whatever  we  may  think  of  the  abdication  of  King 
Rend,  I  fear  we  shall  find  it  difficult  to  make  Louis  XL  see  the 
matter  as  favourably  as  we  do.  He  will  hold  that  the  county 
of  Provence  is  a  male  fief,  and  that  neither  the  resignation  of 
Rend  nor  the  consent  of  his  daughter  can  prevent  its  reverting 
to  the  crown  of  France,  as  the  King  of  Sicily,  as  they  call  him, 
hath  no  male  issue.' 

'  That,  may  it  please  your  Grace,  is  a  question  for  battle  to 
decide ;  and  your  Highness  has  successfully  braved  Louis  for  a 
less  important  stake.  All  I  can  say  is,  that,  if  your  Grace's 
active  assistance  enables  the  young  Earl  of  Richmond  to  succeed 
in  his  enterprise,  you  shall  have  the  aid  of  three  thousand 
English  archers,  if  old  John  of  Oxford,  for  want  of  a  better 
leader,  were  to  bring  them  over  himself 

'A  noble  aid,'  said  the  Duke,  ' graced  still  more  by  him  who 
promises  to  lead  them.  Thy  succour,  noble  Oxford,  were 
precious  to  me,  did  you  but  come  with  your  sword  by  your 
side  and  a  single  page  at  your  back.  I  know  you  well,  both 
heart  and  head.  But  let  us  to  this  gear;  exiles,  even  the 
wisest,  are  privileged  in  promises,  and  sometimes  —  excuse 
me,  noble  Oxford  —  impose  on  themselves  as  well  as  on  their 
friends.  What  are  the  hopes  on  which  you  desire  me  again  to 
embark  on  so  troubled  and  uncertain  an  ocean  as  these  civil 
contests  of  yours  1 ' 

The  Earl  of  Oxford  produced  a  schedule,  and  explained  to  the 
Duke  the  plan  of  his  expedition,  to  be  backed  by  an  insurrec- 
tion of  the  fi-iends  of  Lancaster,  of  which  it  is  enough  to  say, 
that  it  was  bold  to  the  verge  of  temerity ;  but  yet  so  well 
compacted  and  put  together  as  to  bear,  in  those  times  of  rapid 
revolution,  and  under  a  leader  of  Oxford's  approved  military 
skill  and  political  sagacity,  a  strong  appearance  of  probable 
success. 

While  Duke  Charles  mused  over  the  particulars  of  an  enter- 
prise attractive  and  congenial  to  his  own  disposition,  while  he 
counted  over  the  afironts  which  he  had  received  from  his 
brother-in-law,  Edward  IV.,  the  present  opportunity  for  taking 
a  signal  revenge,  and  the  rich  acquisition  which  he  hoped  to 


324  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

make  in  Provence  by  the  cession  in  his  favour  of  Ken^  of  Anjou 
and  his  daughter,  the  EngHshman  failed  not  to  press  on  his 
consideration  the  urgent  necessity  of  suffering  no  time  to  escape. 

*  The  accomplishment  of  this  scheme,'  he  said,  '  demands  the 
utmost  promptitude.  To  have  a  chance  of  success,  I  must  be 
in  England,  with  your  Grace's  auxiliary  forces,  before  Edward  of 
York  can  return  from  France  with  his  army.' 

'And  having  come  hither,'  said  the  Duke,  'our  worthy 
brother  will  be  in  no  hurry  to  return  again.  He  will  meet  with 
black-eyed  French  women  and  ruby-coloured  French  wine,  and 
brother  Blackburn  is  no  man  to  leave  such  commodities  in  a 
hurry.' 

'  My  Lord  Duke,  I  will  speak  truth  of  my  enemy.  Edward  is 
indolent  and  luxurious  when  things  are  easy  around  him,  but 
let  him  feel  the  spur  of  necessity,  and  he  becomes  as  eager  as  a 
pampered  steed.  Louis,  too,  who  seldom  fails  in  finding  means 
to  accomplish  his  ends,  is  bent  upon  determining  the  English 
king  to  recross  the  sea ;  therefore,  speed,  noble  prince  —  speed 
is  the  soul  of  your  enterprise.' 

'  Speed  ! '  said  the  Duke  of  Burgundy.  '  Why,  I  will  go 
with  you  and  see  the  embarkation  myself ;  and  tried,  approved 
soldiers  you  shall  have,  such  as  are  nowhere  to  be  found  save 
in  Artois  and  Hainault.' 

'  But  pardon  yet,  noble  Duke,  the  impatience  of  a  drowning 
wretch  urgently  pressing  for  assistance.  When  shall  we  to  the 
coast  of  Flanders  to  order  this  important  measure  'i '  ^ 

'Why,  in  a  fortnight,  or  perchance  a  week,  or,  in  a  word, 
so  soon  as  I  shall  have  chastised  to  purpose  a  certain  gang  of 
thieves  and  robbers  who,  as  the  scum  of  the  caldron  will 
always  be  uppermost,  have  got  up  into  the  fastnesses  of  the 
Alps,  and  from  thence  annoy  our  frontiers  by  contraband  traffic, 
pillage,  and  robbery.' 

'  Your  Highness  means  the  Swiss  confederates  ? ' 

'  Ay,  the  peasant  churls  give  themselves  such  a  name.  They 
are  a  sort  of  manumitted  slaves  of  Austria,  and,  like  a  ban- dog 
whose  chain  is  broken,  they  avail  themselves  of  their  liberty 
to  annoy  and  rend  whatever  comes  in  their  way.' 

'I  travelled  through  their  country  from  Italy,'  said  the 
exiled  earl,  '  and  I  heard  it  was  the  purpose  of  the  cantons  to 
send  envoys  to  solicit  peace  of  your  Highness.' 

'  Peace ! '  exclaimed  Charles.  '  A  proper  sort  of  peaceful 
proceedings  those  of  their  embassy  have  been  !  Availing  them- 
selves of  a  mutiny  of  the  burghers  of  La  Ferette,  the  first 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  325 

garrison  town  which  they  entered,  they  stormed  the  walls, 
seized  on  Archibald  de  Hagenbach,  who  commanded  the  place 
on  my  part,  and  put  him  to  death  in  the  market-place.  Such 
an  insult  must  be  punished,  Sir  John  de  Vere ;  and  if  you  do 
not  see  me  in  the  storm  of  passion  which  it  well  deserves,  it  is 
because  I  have  already  given  orders  to  hang  up  the  base  runa- 
gates who  call  themselves  ambassadors.' 

'For  God's  sake,  noble  Duke,'  said  the  Englishman,  throwing 
himself  at  Charles's  feet,  '  for  your  own  character,  for  the  sake 
of  the  peace  of  Christendom,  revoke  such  an  order  if  it  is  really 
given ! ' 

'What  means  this  passion*?'  said  Duke  Charles.  'What 
are  these  men's  lives  to  thee,  excepting  that  the  consequences 
of  a  war  may  delay  your  expedition  for  a  few  days  1 ' 

'  May  render  it  altogether  abortive,'  said  the  Earl ;  '  nay, 
must  needs  do  so.  Hear  me,  Lord  Duke.  I  was  with  these 
men  on  a  part  of  their  journey.' 

'  You  ! '  said  the  Duke  —  *  you  a  companion  of  the  paltry- 
Swiss  peasants?  Misfortune  has  sunk  the  pride  of  English 
nobility  to  a  low  ebb,  when  you  selected  such  associates.' 

'I  was  thrown  amongst  them  by  accident,'  said  the  Earl. 
'Some  of  them  are  of  noble  blood,  and  are,  besides,  men  for 
whose  peaceable  intentions  I  ventured  to  constitute  myself 
their  warrant.' 

'On  my  honour,  my  Lord  of  Oxford,  you  graced  them 
highly,  and  me  no  less,  in  interfering  between  the  Swiss  and 
myself!  Allow  me  to  say  that  I  condescend  when,  in  defer- 
ence to  past  friendship,  I  permit  you  to  speak  to  me  of  your 
own  English  affairs.  Methinks  you  might  well  spare  me  your 
opinion  upon  topics  with  which  you  have  no  natural  concern.' 

'My  Lord  of  Burgundy,'  replied  Oxford,  'I  followed  your 
banner  to  Paris,  and  had  the  good  luck  to  rescue  you  in  the 
fight  at  Mont  L'H^ry,  when  you  were  beset  by  the  French 
men-at-arms ' 

'We  have  not  forgot  it,'  said  Duke  Charles;  'and  it  is  a 
sign  that  we  keep  the  action  in  remembrance,  that  you  have 
been  suffered  to  stand  before  us  so  long,  pleading  the  cause  of 
a  set  of  rascals  whom  we  are  required  to  spare  fi-om  the  gallows 
that  groans  for  them  because,  forsooth,  they  have  been  the 
fellow-travellers  of  the  Earl  of  Oxford  ! ' 

'  Not  so,  my  lord.  I  ask  thefr  lives  only  because  they  are 
upon  a  peaceful  errand,  and  the  leaders  amongst  them  at  least 
have  no  accession  to  the  crime  of  which  you  complain.' 


^26  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

The  Duke  traversed  the  apartment  with  unequal  steps  in 
much  agitation,  his  large  eyebrows  drawn  down  over  his  eyes, 
his  hands  clenched,  and  his  teeth  set,  until  at  length  he  seemed 
to  take  a  resolution.  He  rung  a  handbell  of  silver,  which 
stood  upon  his  table. 

'Here,  Contay,'  he  said  to  the  gentleman  of  his  chamber 
who  entered,  *  are  these  mouhtain  fellows  yet  executed  ? ' 

*No,  may  it  please  your  Highness;  but  the  executioner 
waits  them  so  soon  as  the  priest  hath  confessed  them.' 

'Let  them  live,'  said  the  Duke.  'We  will  hear  to-morrow 
in  what  manner  they  propose  to  justify  their  proceedings 
towards   us.' 

Contay  bowed  and  left  the  apartment ;  then  turning  to  the 
Englishman,  the  Duke  said,  with  an  indescribable  mixture  of 
haughtiness  with  familiarity,  and  even  kindness,  but  having 
his  brows  cleared  and  his  looks  composed  — '  We  are  now 
clear  of  obligation,  my  Lord  of  Oxford  :  you  have  obtained  life 
for  life  —  nay,  to  make  up  some  inequality  which  there  may 
be  betwixt  the  value  of  the  commodities  bestowed,  you  have 
obtained  six  lives  for  one.  I  will,  therefore,  pay  no  more 
attention  to  you  should  you  again  upbraid  me  with  the  stum- 
bling horse  at  Mont  L'H^ry,  or  your  own  achievements  on  that 
occasion.  Most  princes  are  contented  with  privately  hating 
such  men  as  have  rendered  them  extraordinary  services.  I 
feel  no  such  disposition  —  I  only  detest  being  reminded  of 
having  had  occasion  for  them.  Pshaw  !  I  am  half-choked  with 
the  effort  of  foregoing  my  own  fixed  resolution.  So  ho !  who 
waits  there  1    Bring  me  to  drink.' 

An  usher  entered,  bearing  a  large  silver  flagon,  which, 
instead  of  wine,  was  filled  with  tisanne,  slightly  flavoured  by 
aromatic  herbs. 

'I  am  so  hot  and  choleric  by  nature,'  said  the  Duke,  ' that 
our  leeches  prohibit  me  irom  drinking  wine.  But  you,  Oxford, 
are  bound  by  no  such  regimen.  Get  thee  to  thy  countrjTuan, 
Colvin,  the  general  of  our  artillery.  We  commend  thee  to  his 
custody  and  hospitality  till  to-morrow,  which  must  be  a  busy 
day,  since  I  expect  to  receive  the  answer  of  these  wiseacres  of 
the  Dijon  assembly  of  estates ;  and  have  also  to  hear  —  thanks 
to  your  lordship's  interference  —  these  miserable  Swiss  envoys, 
as  they  call  themselves.  Well,  no  more  on't.  Good-night. 
You  may  communicate  fi-eely  with  Colvin,  who  is,  like  your- 
self, an  old  Lancastrian.  But  harkye,  not  a  word  respecting 
Provence  —  not  even  in  your  sleep.     Contay,  conduct  this 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  327 

English  gentleman  to  Colvin's  tent.  He  knows  my  pleasure 
respecting  him.' 

'  So  please  your  Grace,'  answered  Contay,  *  I  left  the  English 
gentleman's  son  with  Monsieur  de  Colvin.' 

*  What !  thine  own  son,  Oxford  1  And  with  thee  here  1 
Why  did  you  not  tell  me  of  him  ?  Is  he  a  true  scion  of  the 
ancient  tree  ? ' 

'It  is  my  pride  to  helieve  so,  my  lord.  He  has  been  the 
faithful  companion  of  all  my  dangers  and  wanderings.' 

'  Happy  man  ! '  said  the  Duke,  with  a  sigh.  *  You,  Oxford, 
have  a  son  to  share  your  poverty  and  distress ;  I  have  none  to 
be  partner  and  successor  to  my  greatness.' 

'  You  have  a  daughter,  my  lord,'  said  the  noble  De  Vere, 
*and  it  is  to  be  hoped  she  wiU  one  day  wed  some  powerful 
prince,  who  may  be  the  stay  of  your  Highness's  house.' 

'  Never  !  By  St.  George  —  never ! '  answered  the  Duke, 
sharply  and  shortly.  '  I  will  have  no  son-in-law,  who  may 
make  the  daughter's  bed  a  stepping-stone  to  reach  the  father's 
crown.  Oxford,  I  have  spoken  more  freely  than  I  am  wont, 
perhaps  more  freely  than  I  ought ;  but  I  hold  some  men  trust- 
worthy, and  believe  you.  Sir  John  de  Vere,  to  be  one  of  them.' 

The  English  nobleman  bowed,  and  was  about  to  leave  his 
presence,  but  the  Duke  presently  recalled  him.  i 

'  There  is  one  thing  more,  Oxford.  The  cession  of  Provence 
is  not  quite  enough.  Rend  and  Margaret  must  disavow  this 
hot-brained  Ferrand  de  Vaudemont,  who  is  making  some  foolish 
stir  in  Lorraine,  in  right  of  his  mother  Yolande.' 

'  My  lord,'  said  Oxford,  '  Ferrand  is  the  grandson  of  King 
Rend,  the  nephew  of  Queen  Margaret ;  but  yet ' 

*But  yet,  by  St.  George,  his  rights,  as  he  calls  them,  on 
Lorraine  must  positively  be  disowned.  You  talk  of  their 
family  feelings,  while  you  are  urging  me  to  make  war  on  my 
own  brother-in-law ! ' 

'Rent's  best  apology  for  deserting  his  grandson,'  answered 
Oxford,  '  will  be  his  total  inability  to  support  and  assist  him. 
I  will  communicate  your  Grace's  condition,  though  it  is  a  hard 
one.' 

So  sa3ang,  he  left  the  pavilion. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

I  humbly  thank  your  Highness, 
And  am  right  glad  to  catch  this  good  occasion 
Most  thoroughly  to  be  winnow'd,  where  my  chaff 
And  corn  shall  fly  asunder. 

King  Henry  VIII. 

COLVIN,  the  English  officer,  to  whom  the  Duke  of  Bur- 
gundy, with  splendid  pay  and  appointments,  committed 
the  charge  of  his  artillery,  was  owner  of  the  tent  as- 
signed for  the  Englishman's  lodging,  and  received  the  Earl  of 
Oxford  with  the  respect  due  to  his  rank,  and  to  the  Duke's 
especial  orders  upon  that  subject.  He  had  been  himself  a 
follower  of  the  Lancaster  faction,  and,  of  course,  was  well  dis- 

Eosed  towards  one  of  the  very  few  men  of  distinction  whom  he 
ad  known  personally,  and  who  had  constantly  adhered  to  that 
family  through  the  train  of  misfortunes  by  which  they  seemed 
to  be  totally  overwhelmed.  A  repast,  of  which  his  son  had 
already  partaken,  was  offered  to  the  Earl  by  Colvin,  who 
omitted  not  to  recommend,  by  precept  and  example,  the  good 
wine  of  Burgundy,  from  which  the  sovereign  of  the  province 
was  himself  obliged  to  refrain. 

'His  Grace  shows  command  of  passion  in  that,'  said  Colvin. 
*  For,  sooth  to  speak,  and  only  conversing  betwixt  friends,  his 
temper  grows  too  headlong  to  bear  the  spur  which  a  cup  of 
cordial  beverage  gives  to  the  blood,  and  he,  therefore,  wisely 
restricts  himself  to  such  liquid  as  may  cool  rather  than  inflame 
his  natural  fire  of  disposition.' 

'  I  can  perceive  as  much,'  said  the  Lancastrian  noble.  *  When 
I  first  knew  the  noble  Duke,  who  was  then  Earl  of  Charolais, 
his  temper,  though  always  sufficiently  fiery,  was  calmness  to 
the  impetuosity  which  he  now  displays  on  the  smallest  contra- 
diction. Such  is  the  course  of  an  uninterrupted  flow  of  pros- 
perity. He  has  ascended,  by  his  own  courage  and  the  advantage 
of  circumstances,  from  the  doubtful  place  of  a  feudatory  and 
tributary  prince  to  rank  with  the  most  powerful  sovereigns  in 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  329 

Europe,  and  to  assume  independent  majesty.  But  I  trust  the 
noble  starts  of  generosity  which  atoned  for  his  wilful  and  way- 
ward temper  are  not  more  few  than  formerly  ? ' 

'I  have  good  right  to  say  that  they  are  not,'  replied  the 
soldier  of  fortune,  who  understood  generosity  in  the  restricted 
sense  of  liberality.  '  The  Duke  is  a  noble  and  open-handed 
master.' 

'  I  trust  his  bounty  is  conferred  on  men  who  are  as  faithful 
and  steady  in  their  service  as  you,  Colvin,  have  ever  been.  But 
I  see  a  change  in  your  army.  I  know  the  banners  of  most  of 
the  old  houses  in  Burgundy  —  how  is  it  that  I  observe  so  few 
of  them  in  the  Duke' s  camp  1  I  see  flags,  and  pennons,  and 
pennoncelles ;  but  even  to  me,  who  have  been  so  many  years 
acquainted  with  the  nobility  both  of  France  and  Flanders,  their 
bearings  are  unknown.' 

*My  noble  Lord  of  Oxford,'  answered  the  officer,  'it  ill  be- 
comes a  man  who  lives  on  the  Duke's  pay  to  censure  his  con- 
duct ;  but  his  Highness  hath  of  late  trusted  too  much,  as  it 
seems  to  me,  to  the  hired  arms  of  foreign  levies,  and  too  little 
to  his  own  native  subjects  and  retainers.  He  holds  it  better 
to  take  into  his  pay  large  bands  of  German  and  Italian  mer- 
cenary soldiers  than  to  repose  confidence  in  the  knights  and 
squires  who  are  bound  to  him  by  allegiance  and  feudal  faith. 
He  uses  the  aid  of  his  own  subjects  but  as  the  means  of  produc- 
ing him  sums  of  money,  which  he  bestows  on  his  hired  troops. 
The  Germans  are  honest  knaves  enough  while  regularly  paid  ; 
but  Heaven  preserve  me  from  the  Duke's  Italian  bands,  and 
that  Campo-basso,  their  leader,  who  waits  but  the  highest  price 
to  sell  his  Highness  like  a  sheep  for  the  shambles  ! ' 

'  Think  you  so  ill  of  him  1 '  demanded  the  Earl. 

*So  very  ill  indeed,  that,  I  believe,'  replied  Colvin,  '  there  is 
no  sort  of  treachery  which  the  heart  can  devise  or  the  arm 
perpetrate  that  hath  not  ready  reception  in  his  breast  and 
prompt  execution  at  his  hand.  It  is  painful,  my  lord,  for  an 
honest  Englishman  like  me  to  serve  in  an  army  where  such 
traitors  have  command.  But  what  can  I  do,  unless  I  could  once 
more  find  me  a  soldier's  occupation  in  my  native  country  ?  I 
often  hope  it  will  please  merciful  Heaven  again  to  awaken  those 
brave  civil  wars  in  my  own  dear  England,  where  all  was  fair 
fighting,  and  treason  was  unheard  of 

Lord  Oxford  gave  his  host  to  understand  that  there  was  a 
possibility  that  his  pious  wish  of  living  and  dying  in  his  own 
country,  and  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  was  not  to  be 


330  ANNE  OF  G^IERSTEIN 

despaired  of.  Meantime  he  requested  of  him,  that  early  on 
the  next  morning  he  would  procure  him  a  pass  and  an  escort 
for  his  son,  whom  he  was  compelled  to  despatch  forthwith  to 
Nancy,  the  residence  of  King  Rend. 

*  What ! '  said  Colvin,  '  is  my  young  Lord  of  Oxford  to  take 
a  degree  in  the  Court  of  Love,  for  no  other  business  is  listened 
to  at  King  Rent's  capital  save  love  and  poetry  ? ' 

'  I  am  not  ambitious  of  such  distinction  for  him,  my  good 
host,'  answered  Oxford  ;  *  but  Queen  Margaret  is  with  her  father, 
and  it  is  but  fitting  that  the  youth  should  kiss  her  hand.' 

*  Enough  spoken,'  said  the  veteran  Lancastrian.  '  I  trust, 
though  winter  is  fast  approaching,  the  Red  Rose  may  bloom  in 
spring.' 

He  then  ushered  the  Earl  of  Oxford  to  the  partition  of  the 
tent  which  he  was  to  occupy,  in  which  there  was  a  couch  for 
Arthur  also,  their  host,  as  Colvin  might  be  termed,  assuring 
them  that,  with  peep  of  day,  horses  and  faithful  attendants 
should  be  ready  to  speed  the  youth  on  his  journey  to  Nancy. 

'And  now,  Arthur,'  said  his  father,  'we  must  part  once 
more.  I  dare  give  thee,  in  this  land  of  danger,  no  written 
communication  to  my  mistress,  Queen  Margaret ;  but  say  to 
her,  that  I  have  found  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  wedded  to  his 
own  views  of  interest,  but  not  averse  to  combine  them  with 
hers.  Say,  that  I  have  little  doubt  that  he  will  grant  us  the 
required  aid,  but  not  without  the  expected  resignation  in  his 
favour  by  herself  and  King  Rend.  Say,  I  would  never  have 
recommended  such  a  sacrifice  for  the  precarious  chance  of  over- 
throwing the  house  of  York,  but  that  I  am  satisfied  that  France 
and  Burgundy  are  hanging  like  vultures  over  Provence,  and 
that  the  one  or  other,  or  both  princes,  are  ready,  on  her  father's 
demise,  to  pounce  on  such  possessions  as  they  have  reluctantly 
spared  to  him  during  his  life.  An  accommodation  with  Bur- 
gundy may,  therefore,  on  the  one  hand,  ensure  his  active  co- 
operation in  the  attempt  on  England  ;  and,  on  the  other,  if  our 
high-spirited  princess  complies  not  with  the  Duke's  request, 
the  justice  of  her  cause  will  give  no  additional  security  to 
her  hereditary  claims  on  her  father's  dominions.  Bid  Queen 
Margaret,  therefore,  unless  she  should  have  changed  her 
views,  obtain  King  Rent's  formal  deed  of  cession,  conveying 
his  estates  to  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  with  her  Majesty's  con- 
sent. The  necessary  provisions  to  the  King  and  to  herself  may 
be  filled  up  at  her  Grace's  pleasure,  or  they  may  be  left 
blank.     I  can  trust  to  the  Duke's  generosity  to  their  being 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  3S1 

suitably  arranged.  All  that  I  fear  is,  that  Charles  may  embroil 
himself ' 

'  In  some  silly  exploit,  necessary  for  his  own  honour  and  the 
safety  of  his  dominions,'  answered  a  voice  behind  the  lining  of 
the  tent,  *  and,  by  doing  so,  attend  to  his  own  affairs  more  than 
to  ours  —  ha,  sir  earl  ? ' 

At  the  same  time  the  curtain  was  drawn  aside,  and  a  person 
entered,  in  whom,  though  clothed  with  the  jerkin  and  bonnet 
of  a  private  soldier  of  the  Walloon  guard,  Oxford  instantly 
recognised  the  Duke  of  Burgundy's  harsh  features  and  fierce 
eyes,  as  they  sparkled  from  under  the  fur  and  feather  with 
which  the  cap  was  ornamented. 

Arthur,  who  knew  not  the  Prince's  person,  started  at  the 
intrusion,  and  laid  his  hand  on  his  dagger;  but  his  father 
made  a  signal  which  staid  his  hand,  and  he  gazed  with  wonder 
on  the  solemn  respect  with  which  the  Earl  received  the  intru- 
sive soldier.     The  first  word  informed  him  of  the  cause. 

'  If  this  masking  be  done  in  proof  of  my  faith,  noble  Duke, 
permit  me  to  say  it  is  superfluous.' 

'Nay,  Oxford,'  answered  the  Duke,  'I  was  a  courteous  [spy ; 
for  I  ceased  to  play  the  eavesdropper  at  the  very  moment 
when  I  had  reason  to  expect  you  were  about  to  say  something 
to  anger  me.' 

*  As  I  am  a  true  knight,  my  Lord  Duke,  if  you  had  remained 
behind  the  arras,  you  would  only  have  heard  the  same  truths 
which  I  am  ready  to  tell  in  your  Grace's  presence,  though 
it  may  have  chanced  they  might  have  been  more  bluntly 


'  Well,  speak  them,  then,  in  whatever  phrase  thou  wilt : 
they  lie  in  their  throats  that  say  Charles  of  Burgundy  was 
ever  offended  by  advice  fi'om  a  well-meaning  fi-iend.' 

'I  would  then  have  said,'  replied  the  English  earl,  'that  aU 
which  Margaret  of  Anjou  had  to  apprehend  was  that  the  Duke 
of  Burgundy,  when  buckling  on  his  armour  to  win  Provence 
for  himself,  and  to  afford  to  her  his  powerful  assistance  to 
assert  her  rights  in  England,  was  likely  to  be  withdrawn  from 
such  high  objects  by  an  imprudently  eager  desire  to  avenge 
himself  of  imaginary  affronts  offered  to  him,  as  he  supposed, 
by  certain  confederacies  of  Alpine  mountaineers,  over  whom  it 
is  impossible  to  gain  any  important  advantage  or  acquire 
reputation,  while,  on  the  contrary,  there  is  a  risk  of  losing 
both.  These  men  dwell  amongst  rocks  and  deserts  which  sre 
almost  inaccessible,  and  subsist  in  a  manner  so  rude,  that  the 


S32  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

poorest  of  your  subjects  would  starve  if  subjected  to  such  diet. 
They  are  formed  by  nature  to  be  the  garrison  of  the  mountain 
fortresses  in  which  she  has  placed  them ;  for  Heaven's  sake 
meddle  not  with  them,  but  follow  forth  your  o^vn  nobler  and 
more  important  objects,  without  stirring  a  nest  of  hornets, 
which,  once  in  motion,  may  sting  you  into  madness.' 

The  Duke  had  promised  patience,  and  endeavoured  to  keep 
his  word ;  but  the  swollen  muscles  of  his  face,  and  his  flashing 
eyes,  showed  how  painful  to  him  it  was  to  suppress  his  resent- 
ment. 

'  You  are  misinformed,  my  lord,'  he  said :  *  these  men  are 
not  the  inoiFensive  herdsmen  and  peasants  you  are  pleased  to 
suppose  them.  If  they  were,  I  might  afford  to  despise  them. 
But,  flushed  with  some  victories  over  the  sluggish  Austrians, 
they  have  shaken  off  all  reverence  for  authority,  assume  airs  of 
independence,  form  leagues,  make  inroads,  storm  towns,  doom 
and  execute  men  of  noble  birth  at  their  pleasure.  Thou  art 
dull,  and  look'st  as  if  thou  dost  not  apprehend  me.  To  rouse 
thy  English  blood,  and  make  thee  sympathise  with  my  feelings 
to  these  mountaineers,  know  that  these  Swiss  are  very  Scots  to 
my  dominions  in  their  neighbourhood  —  poor,  proud,  ferocious ; 
easily  offended,  because  they  gain  by  war ;  ill  to  be  appeased, 
because  they  nourish  deep  revenge;  ever  ready  to  seize  the 
moment  of  advantage,  and  attack  a  neighbour  when  he  is 
engaged  in  other  affairs.  The  same  unquiet,  perfidious,  and 
inveterate  enemies  that  the  Scots  are  to  England  are  the 
Swiss  to  Burgundy  and  to  my  allies.  What  say  you  ?  Can  I 
undertake  anything  of  consequence  till  I  have  crushed  the 
pride  of  such  a  people  j  It  will  be  but  a  few  days'  work.  I 
will  grasp  the  mountain  hedgehog,  prickles  and  all,  with  my 
steel-gauntlet.' 

'  Your  Grace  will  then  have  shorter  work  with  them,'  replied 
the  disguised  nobleman, '  than  our  English  kings  have  had  with 
Scotland.  The  wars  there  have  lasted  so  long,  and  proved  so 
bloody,  that  wise  men  regret  we  ever  began  them.' 

*Nay,'  said  the  Duke,  'I  will  not  dishonour  the  Scots  by 
comparing  them  in  all  respects  to  these  mountain  churls  of  the 
cantons.  The  Scots  have  blood  and  gentry  among  them,  and 
we  have  seen  many  examples  of  both ;  these  Swiss  are  a  mere 
brood  of  peasants,  and  the  few  gentlemen  of  birth  they  can 
boast  must  hide  their  distinction  in  the  dress  and  manners  of 
clowns.  They  will,  I  think,  scarce  stand  against  a  charge  of 
Hainaulters.' 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  Not  if  the  Hainaulters  find  ground  to  ride  upon.   But  — — ' 
'Nay,  to  silence  your  scruples,'  said  the  Duke,  interrupting 

him,  '  know,  that  these  people  encourage,  by  their  countenance 
and  aid,  the  formation  of  the  most  dangerous  conspiracies  in 
my  dominions.  Look  here — I  told  you  that  my  officer.  Sir 
Archibald  de  Hagenbach,  was  murdered  when  the  town  of 
Brisach  was  treacherously  taken  by  these  harmless  Switzers  of 
yours.  And  here  is  a  scroll  of  parchment  which  announces 
that  my  servant  was  murdered  by  doom  of  the  Vehmegericht, 
a  band  of  secret  assassins,  whom  I  will  not  permit  to  meet  in 
any  part  of  my  dominions.  0,  could  I  but  catch  them  above 
ground  as  they  are  found  lurking  below,  they  should  know 
what  the  life  of  a  nobleman  is  worth !  Then,  look  at  the  in- 
solence of  their  attestation.' 

The  scroll  bore,  with  the  day  and  date  adjected,  that  judg- 
ment had  been  done  on  Archibald  de  Hagenbach,  for  tyranny, 
violence,  and  oppression,  by  order  of  the  Holy  Vehme,  and  that 
it  was  executed  by  their  officials,  who  were  responsible  for  the 
same  to  their  tribunal  alone.  It  was  countersigned  in  red  ink, 
with  the  badges  of  the  Secret  Society,  a  coil  of  ropes  and  a 
drawn  dagger. 

*  This  document  I  found  stuck  to  my  toilette  with  a  knife,' 
said  the  Duke  —  '  another  trick  by  which  they  give  mystery  to 
their  murderous  jugglery.' 

The  thought  of  what  he  had  undergone  in  John  Mengs's 
house,  and  reflections  upon  the  extent  and  omnipresence  of  these 
secret  associations,  struck  even  the  brave  Englishman  with  an 
involuntary  shudder. 

'  For  the  sake  of  every  saint  in  Heaven,'  he  said,  *  forbear, 
my  lord,  to  speak  of  these  tremendous  societies,  whose  creatures 
are  above,  beneath,  and  around  us.  No  man  is  secure  of  his 
life,  however  guarded,  if  it  be  sought  by  a  man  who  is  careless 
of  his  own.  You  are  surrounded  by  Germans,  Italians,  and 
other  strangers.  How  many  amongst  these  may  be  bound  by 
the  secret  ties  which  withdraw  men  from  every  other  social  bond, 
to  unite  them  together  in  one  inextricable,  though  secret,  com- 
pact 1  Beware,  noble  Prince,  of  the  situation  on  which  your 
throne  is  placed,  though  it  still  exhibits  aU  the  splendour  of 
power  and  all  the  solidity  of  foundation  that  belong  to  so 
august  a  structure.  I  —  the  friend  of  thy  house  —  were  it  with 
my  dying  breath,  must  needs  tell  thee  that  the  Swiss  hang 
like  an  avalanche  over  thy  head,  and  the  secret  associations 
work  beneath  thee  like  the  first  throes  of  the  coming  earthquake. 


334  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

Provoke  not  the  contest,  and  the  snow  will  rest  undisturhed  on 
the  mountain-side,  the  agitation  of  the  subterranean  vapours 
will  be  hushed  to  rest ;  but  a  single  word  of  defiance  or  one 
flash  of  indignant  scorn  may  call  their  terrors  into  instant  action.' 
'  You  speak,'  said  the  Duke,  '  with  more  awe  of  a  pack  of 
naked  churls  and  a  band  of  midnight  assassins  than  I  have 
seen  you  show  for  real  danger.  Yet  I  will  not  scorn  your 
counsel  :  I  will  hear  the  Swiss  envoys  patiently,  and  I  will  not, 
if  I  can  help  it,  show  the  contempt  with  which  I  cannot  but  re- 
gard their  pretensions  to  treat  as  independent  states.  On  the 
Secret  Associations  I  will  be  silent,  till  time  gives  me  the  means 
of  acting  in  combination  with  the  Emperor,  the  Diet,  and  the 
Princes  of  the  Empire,  that  they  may  be  driven  from  all  their 
burrows  at  once.     Ha,  sir  earl,  said  I  well  1 ' 

*  It  is  well  thought,  my  lord,  but  it  may  be  unhappily  spoken. 
You  are  in  a  position  where  one  word  overheard  by  a  traitor 
might  produce  death  and  ruin.' 

'  I  keep  no  traitors  about  me,'  said  Charles.  '  If  I  thought 
there  were  such  in  my  camp,  I  would  rather  die  by  them  at 
once  than  live  in  perpetual  terror  and  suspicion.' 

*  Your  Highness's  ancient  followers  and  servants,'  said  the 
Earl,  'speak  unfavourably  of  the  Count  of  Campo-basso,  who 
holds  so  high  a  rank  in  your  confidence.' 

*  Ay,'  replied  the  Duke,  with  composure,  *it  is  easy  to  decry 
the  most  faithful  servant  in  a  court  by  the  unanimous  hatred 
of  all  the  others.  I  warrant  me  your  buU-headed  countryman, 
Colvin,  has  been  railing  against  the  Count  like  the  rest  of  them  ; 
for  Campo-basso  sees  nothing  amiss  in  any  department  but  he 
reports  it  to  me  without  fear  or  favour.  And  then  his  opinions 
are  cast  so  much  in  the  same  mould  with  my  own,  that  I  can 
hardly  get  him  to  enlarge  upon  what  he  best  understands,  if  it 
seems  in  any  respect  different  from  my  sentiments.  Add  to 
this,  a  noble  person,  grace,  gaiety,  skill  in  the  exercises  of  war 
and  in  the  courtly  arts  of  peace  —  such  is  Campo-basso ;  and 
being  such,  is  he  not  a  gem  for  a  prince's  cabinet  1 ' 

'The  very  materials  out  of  which  a  favourite  is  formed,' 
answered  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  '  but  something  less  adapted  for 
making  a  faithful  counsellor.' 

*Why,  thou  mistrustful  fool,'  said  the  Duke,  'must  I  tell 
thee  the  very  inmost  secret  respecting  this  man,  Campo-basso, 
and  will  nothing  short  of  it  stay  these  imaginary  suspicions 
which  thy  new  trade  of  an  itinerant  merchant  hath  led  thee  to 
entertain  so  rashly  1 ' 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  335 

*  If  your  Highness  honours  me  with  your  confidence,'  said 
the  Earl  of  Oxford,  '  I  can  only  say  that  my  fidelity  shall  de- 
serve it.' 

'  Know  then,  thou  misbelieving  mortal,  that  my  good  fi:iend 
and  brother,  Louis  of  France,  sent  me  private  information 
through  no  less  a  person  than  his  famous  barber,  Oliver  le 
Diable,  that  Campo-basso  had  for  a  certain  sum  offered  to  put 
my  person  into  his  hands,  alive  or  dead.     You  start  ? ' 

'  I  do  indeed,  recollecting  your  Highness's  practice  of  riding 
out  lightly  armed,  and  with  a  very  small  attendance,  to  recon- 
noitre the  ground  and  visit  the  outposts,  and  therefore  how 
easily  such  a  treacherous  device  might  be  carried  into  execution.' 

'  Pshaw  ! '  answered  the  Duke.  '  Thou  seest  the  danger  as  if 
it  were  real,  whereas  nothing  can  be  more  certain  than  that,  if 
my  cousin  of  France  had  ever  received  such  an  offer,  he  would 
have  been  the  last  person  to  have  put  me  on  my  guard  against 
the  attempt.  No,  he  knows  the  value  I  set  on  Campo-basso's 
services,  and  forged  the  accusation  to  deprive  me  of  them.' 

'And  yet,  my  lord,'  replied  the  English  earl,  'your  High- 
ness, by  my  counsel,  will  not  unnecessarily  or  impatiently  fling 
aside  your  armour  of  proof,  or  ride  without  the  escort  of  some 
score  of  your  trusty  Wallonos.' 

'Tush,  man,  thou  wouldst  make  a  carbonado  of  a  fever- 
stirred  wretch  like  myself  betwixt  the  bright  iron  and  the  burn- 
ing sun.  But  I  will  be  cautious  though  I  jest  thus ;  and  you, 
young  man,  may  assure  my  cousin,  Margaret  of  Anjou,  that  I 
will  consider  her  affairs  as  my  own.  And  remember,  youth, 
that  the  secrets  of  princes  are  fatal  gifts,  if  he  to  whom  they 
are  imparted  blaze  them  abroad  ;  but  if  duly  treasured  up,  they 
enrich  the  bearer.  And  thou  shalt  have  cause  to  say  so  if  thou 
canst  bring  back  with  thee  from  Aix  the  deed  of  resignation  of 
which  thy  father  hath  spoken.     Good-night  —  good-night ! ' 

He  left  the  apartment. 

'  You  have  just  seen,'  said  the  Earl  of  Oxford  to  his  son,  *  a 
sketch  of  this  extraordinary  prince  by  his  own  pencil.  It  is 
easy  to  excite  his  ambition  or  thirst  of  power,  but  wellnigh  im- 
possible to  limit  him  to  the  just  measures  by  which  it  is  most 
likely  to  be  gratified.  He  is  ever  like  the  young  archer,  startled 
from  his  mark  by  some  swallow  crossing  his  eye,  even  careless 
as  he  draws  the  string.  Now  irregularly  and  offensively  sus- 
picious, now  unreservedly  lavish  of  his  confidence ;  not  long 
since  the  enemy  of  the  line  of  Lancaster,  and  the  ally  of  her 
deadly  foe,  now  its  last  and  only  stay  and  hope.     God  mend 


336  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

all !  It  is  a  weary  thing  to  look  on  the  game  and  see  how  it 
might  be  won,  while  we  are  debarred  by  the  caprice  of  others 
from  the  power  of  playing  it  according  to  our  own  skill.  How 
much  must  depend  on  the  decision  of  Duke  Charles  upon  the 
morrow,  and  how  little  do  I  possess  the  power  of  influencing 
him,  either  for  his  own  safety  or  our  advantage  !  Good-night, 
my  son,  and  let  us  trust  events  to  Him  who  alone  can  control 
them/ 


CHAPTER  XXVIl 

My  blood  hath  been  too  cold  and  temperate. 
Unapt  to  stir  at  these  indignities, 
And  you  have  found  me  ;  for,  accordingly, 
You  tread  upon  my  patience. 

Henry  IV, 

THE  dawn  of  morning  roused  the  banished  Earl  of  Ox- 
ford and  his  son,  and  its  lights  were  scarce  abroad  on 
the  eastern  heaven  ere  their  host,  Colvin,  entered  with 
an  attendant,  bearing  some  bundles,  which  he  placed  on  the 
floor  of  the  tent,  and  instantly  retired.  The  officer  of  the 
Duke's  ordnance  then  announced  that  he  came  with  a  message 
from  the  Duke  of  Burgundy. 

'His  Highness,'  he  said,  'has  sent  four  stout  yeomen,  with 
a  commission  of  credence  to  my  young  master  of  Oxford,  and 
an  ample  purse  of  gold,  to  furnish  his  expenses  to  Aix,  and 
while  his  affairs  may  detain  him  there ;  also  a  letter  of  credence 
to  King  Ren^,  to  ensure  his  reception,  and  two  suits  of  honour 
for  his  use,  as  for  an  English  gentleman,  desirous  to  witness 
the  festive  solemnities  of  Provence,  and  in  whose  safety  the 
Duke  deigns  to  take  deep  interest.  His  farther  affairs  there, 
if  he  hath  any,  his  Highness  recommends  to  him  to  manage 
with  prudence  and  secrecy.  His  Highness  hath  also  sent  a 
couple  of  horses  for  his  use  —  one  an  ambling  jennet  for  the 
road,  and  another  a  strong  barbed  horse  of  Flanders,  in  case  he 
hath  aught  to  do.  It  will  be  fitting  that  my  young  master 
change  his  dress,  and  assume  attire  more  near  his  proper 
rank.  His  attendants  know  the  road,  and  have  power,  in  case 
of  need,  to  summon,  in  the  Duke's  name,  assistance  from  all 
faithful  Burgundians.  I  have  but  to  add,  the  sooner  the  young 
gentleman  sets  forward,  it  will  be  the  better  sign  of  a  successful 
journey.' 

'  I  am  ready  to  mount  the  instant  that  I  have  changed  my 
dress,'  said  Arthur. 

*  Aiid  I,'  said  his  father,  '  have  no  wish  to  detain  him  on  the 

VOL,  XXIII 22 


338  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

service  in  which  he  is  now  employed.  Neither  he  nor  I  will 
say  more  than  "  God  be  with  you."  How  and  where  we  are  to 
meet  again,  who  can  tell  1 ' 

*I  believe,'  said  Colvin,  'that  must  rest  on  the  motions  of 
the  Duke,  which,  perchance,  are  not  yet  determined  upon ;  but 
his  Highness  depends  upon  your  remaining  with  him,  my  noble 
lord,  till  the  affairs  of  which  you  come  to  treat  may  be  more 
fully  decided.  Something  I  have  for  your  lordship's  private 
ear,  when  your  son  hath  parted  on  his  journey.' 

While  Colvin  was  thus  talking  with  his  father,  Arthur,  who 
was  not  above  half- dressed  when  he  entered  the  tent,  had 
availed  himself  of  an  obscure  corner,  in  which  he  exchanged 
the  plain  garb  belonging  to  his  supposed  condition  as  a  mer- 
chant for  such  a  riding- suit  as  became  a  young  man  of  some 
quality  attached  to  the  court  of  Burgundy.  It  was  not  with- 
out a  natural  sensation  of  pleasure  that  the  youth  resumed  an 
apparel  suitable  to  his  birth,  and  which  no  one  was  personally 
more  fitted  to  become ;  but  it  was  with  much  deeper  feeling  that 
he  hastily,  and  as  secretly  as  possible,  flung  round  his  neck,  and 
concealed  under  the  collar  and  folds  of  his  ornamented  doublet, 
a  small  thin  chain  of  gold,  curiously  linked  in  what  was  called 
Morisco  work.  This  was  the  contents  of  the  parcel  which  Anne 
of  Geierstein  had  indulged  his  feelings,  and  perhaps  her  own, 
by  putting  into  his  hands  as  they  parted.  The  chain  was 
secured  by  a  slight  plate  of  gold,  on  which  a  bodkin,  or  a 
point  of  a  knife,  had  traced  on  the  one  side,  in  distinct  though 
light  characters.  Adieu  for  ever  !  while  on  the  reverse  there 
was  much  more  obscurely  traced  the  word  Remember!  —  A. 

VON  G. 

All  who  may  read  this  are,  have  been,  or  will  be,  lovers ; 
and  there  is  none,  therefore,  who  may  not  be  able  to  compre- 
hend why  this  token  was  carefully  suspended  around  Arthur's 
neck,  so  that  the  inscription  might  rest  on  the  region  of  his 
heart,  without  the  interruption  of  any  substance  which  could 
prevent  the  pledge  from  being  agitated  by  every  throb  of  that 
busy  organ. 

This  being  hastily  ensured,  a  few  minutes  completed  the 
rest  of  his  toilette ;  and  he  kneeled  before  his  father  to  ask  his 
blessing  and  his  further  commands  for  Aix. 

His  father  blessed  him  almost  inarticulately,  and  then  said, 
with  recovered  firmness,  that  he  was  already  possessed  of  all 
the  knowledge  necessary  for  success  on  his  mission. 

*  When  you  can  bring  me  the  deeds  wanted,'  he  whispered 


'  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  339 

with  more  firmness,  'you  will  find  me  near  the  person  of  the 
Duke  of  Burgundy.' 

They  went  forth  of  the  tent  in  silence,  and  found  before  it 
the  four  Burgundian  yeomen,  tall  and  active-looking  men, 
ready  mounted  themselves,  and  holding  two  saddled  horses  — 
the  one  accoutred  for  war,  the  other  a  spirited  jennet,  for  the 
purposes  of  the  journey.  One  of  them  led  a  sumpter-horse,  on 
which  Colvin  informed  Arthur  he  would  find  the  change  of 
habit  necessary  when  he  should  arrive  at  Aix ;  and  at  the  same 
time  delivered  to  him  a  heavy  purse  of  gold. 

'Thiebault,'  he  continued,  pointing  out  the  eldest  of  the 
attendant  troopers,  '  may  be  trusted  —  I  will  be  warrant  for  his 
sagacity  and  fidelity.  The  other  three  are  picked  men,  who 
will  not  fear  their  skin-cutting.' 

Arthur  vaulted  into  the  saddle  with  a  sensation  of  pleasure 
which  was  natural  to  a  young  cavalier  who  had  not  for  many 
months  felt  a  spirited  horse  beneath  him.  The  lively  jennet 
reared  with  impatience.  Arthur,  sitting  firm  on  his  seat,  as  if 
he  had  been  a  part  of  the  animal,  only  said,  '  Ere  we  are  long 
acquainted,  thy  spirit,  my  fair  roan,  will  be  something  more 
tamed.' 

'One  word  more,  my  son,'  said  his  father,  and  whispered  in 
Arthur's  ear,  as  he  stooped  from  the  saddle ;  '  if  you  receive  a 
letter  from  me,  do  not  think  yourself  fully  acquainted  with  the 
contents  till  the  paper  has  been  held  opposite  to  a  hot  fire.' 

Arthur  bowed,  and  motioned  to  the  elder  trooper  to  lead 
the  way,  when  all,  giving  rein  to  their  horses,  rode  off  through 
the  encampment  at  a  round  pace,  the  young  leader  signing  an 
adieu  to  his  father  and  Colvin. 

The  Earl  stood  like  a  man  in  a  dream,  following  his  son 
with  his  eyes,  in  a  kind  of  reverie,  which  was  only  broken 
when  Colvin  said,  '  I  marvel  not,  my  lord,  that  you  are  anxious 
about  my  young  master  :  he  is  a  gallant  youth,  well  worth  a 
father's  caring  for,  and  the  times  we  live  in  are  both  false  and 
bloody.' 

'  God  and  St.  Mary  be  my  witness,'  said  the  Earl,  '  that  if  I 
grieve,  it  is  not  for  my  own  house  only ;  if  I  am  anxious,  it  is 
not  for  the  sake  of  my  own  son  alone  ;  but  it  is  hard  to  risk  a 
last  stake  in  a  cause  so  perilous.  What  commands  brought 
you  from  the  Duke  ? ' 

'  His  Grace,'  said  Colvin,  '  will  get  on  horseback  after  he  has 
breakfasted.  He  sends  you  some  garments,  which,  if  not  fitting 
your  quality,  are  yet  nearer  to  suitable  apparel  than  those  you 


840  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

now  wear,  and  he  desires  that,  observing  your  incognito  as  an 
English  merchant  of  eminence,  you  will  join  him  in  his  caval- 
cade to  Dijon,  where  he  is  to  receive  the  answer  of  the  Estates 
of  Burgundy  concerning  matters  submitted  to  their  considera- 
tion, and  thereafter  give  public  audience  to  the  deputies  from 
Switzerland.  His  Highness  has  charged  me  with  the  care  of 
finding  you  suitable  accommodation  during  the  ceremonies  of 
the  day,  which  he  thinks  you  will,  as  a  stranger,  be  pleased  to 
look  upon.  But  he  probably  told  you  all  this  himself,  for  I 
think  you  saw  him  last  night  in  disguise.  Nay,  look  as  strange 
as  you  will  —  the  Duke  plays  that  trick  too  often  to  be  able  to 
do  it  with  secrecy :  the  very  horse-boys  know  him  while  he 
traverses  the  tents  of  the  common  soldiery,  and  sutler  women 
give  him  the  name  of  the  spied  spy.  If  it  were  only  honest 
Harry  Colvin  who  knew  this,  it  should  not  cross  his  lips.  But 
it  is  practised  too  openly,  and  too  widely  known.  Come,  noble 
lord,  though  I  must  teach  my  tongue  to  forego  that  courtesy, 
will  you  along  to  breakfast  1 ' 

The  meal,  according  to  the  practice  of  the  time,  was  a 
solemn  and  solid  one ;  and  a  favoured  officer  of  the  great  Duke 
of  Burgundy  lacked  no  means,  it  may  be  believed,  of  rendering 
due  hospitality  to  a  guest  having  claims  of  such  high  respect. 
But,  ere  the  breakfast  was  over,  a  clamorous  flourish  of 
trumpets  announced  that  the  Duke,  with  his  attendants  and 
retinue,  were  sounding  to  horse.  Philipson,  as  he  was  still 
called,  was,  in  the  name  of  the  Duke,  presented  with  a  stately 
charger,  and  with  his  host  mingled  in  the  splendid  assembly 
which  began  to  gather  in  front  of  the  Duke's  pavilion.  In  a 
few  minutes,  the  Prince  himself  issued  forth,  in  the  superb 
dress  of  the  Order  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  of  which  his  father 
Philip  had  been  the  founder,  and  Charles  was  himself  the 
patron  and  sovereign.  Several  of  his  courtiers  were  dressed  in 
the  same  magnificent  robes,  and,  with  their  followers  and 
attendants,  displayed  so  much  wealth  and  splendour  of  appear- 
ance as  to  warrant  the  common  saying,  that  the  Duke  of 
Burgundy  maintained  the  most  magnificent  court  in  Christen- 
dom. The  officers  of  his  household  attended  in  their  order, 
together  with  heralds  and  pursuivants,  the  grotesque  richness 
of  whose  habits  had  a  singular  effect  among  those  of  the  high 
clergy  in  their  albes  and  dalmatiques,  and  of  the  knights  and 
crown  vassals  who  were  arrayed  in  armour.  Among  these  last, 
who  were  variously  equipped,  according  to  the  different  char- 
acter of  their  service,  rode  Oxford,  but  in  a  peaceful  habit, 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  S41 

neither  so  plain  as  to  be  out  of  place  amongst  such  splendour, 
nor  so  rich  as  to  draw  on  him  a  special  or  particular  degree  of 
attention.  He  rode  by  the  side  of  Colvin,  his  tall,  muscular 
figure  and  deep-marked  features  forming  a  strong  contrast  to 
the  rough,  almost  ignoble,  cast  of  countenance,  and  stout, 
thick-set  form,  of  the  less  distinguished  soldier  of  fortune. 

Ranged  into  a  solemn  procession,  the  rear  of  which  was 
closed  by  a  guard  of  two  hundred  picked  arquebusiers,  a 
description  of  soldiers  who  were  just  then  coming  into  notice, 
and  as  many  mounted  men-at-arms,  the  Duke  and  his  retinue, 
leaving  the  barriers  of  the  camp,  directed  their  march  to  the 
town,  or  rather  city,  of  Dijon,  in  those  days  the  capital  of  all 
Burgundy. 

It  was  a  town  well  secured  with  walls  and  ditches,  which 
last  were  filled  by  means  of  a  small  river,  named  Dousch, 
which  combines  its  waters  for  that  purpose  with  a  torrent 
called  Suson.  Four  gates,  with  appropriate  barbicans,  out- 
works, and  drawbridges,  corresponded  nearly  to  the  cardinal 
points  of  the  compass,  and  gave  admission  to  the  city.  The 
number  of  towers,  which  stood  high  above  its  walls,  and  de- 
fended them  at  different  angles,  was  thirty-three ;  and  the  walls 
themselves,  which  exceeded  in  most  places  the  height  of  thirty 
feet,  were  built  of  stones  hewn  and  squared,  and  were  of  great 
thickness.  This  stately  city  was  surrounded  on  the  outside 
with  hills  covered  with  vineyards,  while  fi:om  within  its  walls 
rose  the  towers  of  many  noble  buildings,  both  public  and 
private,  as  well  as  the  steeples  of  magnificent  churches  and  of 
well-endowed  convents,  attesting  the  wealth  and  devotion  of 
the  house  of  Burgundy. 

When  the  trumpets  of  the  Duke's  procession  had  summoned 
the  burgher  guard  at  the  gate  of  St.  Nicholas,  the  drawbridge 
fell,  the  portcullis  rose,  the  people  shouted  joyously,  the  win- 
dows were  hung  with  tapestry;  and  as,  in  the  midst  of  his 
retinue,  Charles  himself  came  riding  on  a  milk-white  steed, 
attended  only  by  six  pages  under  fourteen  years  old,  with  each  a 
gilded  partizan  in  his  hand,  the  acclamations  with  which  he  was 
received  on  all  sides  showed  that,  if  some  instances  of  misrule 
had  diminished  his  popularity,  enough  of  it  remained  to  render 
his  reception  into  his  capital  decorous  at  least,  if  not  enthu- 
siastic. It  is  probable  that  the  veneration  attached  to  his 
father's  memory  counteracted  for  a  long  time  the  unfavourable 
effect  which  some  of  his  own  actions  were  calculated  to  produce 
on  the  public  mind. 


3452  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

The  procession  halted  before  a  large  Gothic  building  in  the 
centre  of  Dijon.  This  was  then  called  Maison  du  Due,  as, 
after  the  union  of  Burgundy  with  France,  it  was  termed 
Maison  du  Roy.  The  Tnaire  of  Dijon  attended  on  the  steps 
before  this  palace,  accompanied  by  his  official  brethren,  and 
escorted  by  a  hundred  able-bodied  citizens,  in  black  velvet 
cloaks,  bearing  half-pikes  in  their  hands.  The  maire  kneeled 
to  kiss  the  stirrup  of  the  Duke,  and  at  the  moment  when 
Charles  descended  from  his  horse  every  bell  in  the  city  com- 
menced so  thundering  a  peal,  that  they  might  almost  have 
awakened  the  dead  who  slept  in  the  vicinity  of  the  steeples, 
which  rocked  with  their  clangour.  Under  the  influence  of  this 
stunning  peal  of  welcome,  the  Duke  entered  the  great  hall  of 
the  building,  at  the  upper  end  of  which  were  erected  a  throne 
for  the  sovereign,  seats  for  his  more  distinguished  officers  of 
state  and  higher  vassals,  with  benches  behind  for  persons  of 
less  note.  On  one  of  these,  but  in  a  spot  from  which  he  might 
possess  a  commanding  view  of  the  whole  assembly,  as  well  as 
of  the  Duke  himself,  Colvin  placed  the  noble  Englishman ;  and 
Charles,  whose  quick,  stern  eye  glanced  rapidly  over  the  party 
when  they  were  seated,  seemed,  by  a  nod  so  slight  as  to  be 
almost  imperceptible  to  those  around  him,  to  give  his  appro- 
bation of  the  arrangement  adopted. 

When  the  Duke  and  his  assistants  were  seated  and  in  order, 
the  maire^  again  approaching,  in  the  most  humble  manner,  and 
kneeling  on  the  lowest  step  of  the  ducal  throne,  requested  to 
know  if  his  Highness's  leisure  permitted  him  to  hear  the 
inhabitants  of  his  capital  express  their  devoted  zeal  to  his 
person,  and  to  accept  the  benevolence  which,  in  the  shape  of  a 
silver  cup  filled  with  gold  pieces,  he  had  the  distinguished 
honour  to  place  before  his  feet,  in  name  of  the  citizens  and 
community  of  Dijon. 

Charles,  who  at  no  time  affected  much  courtesy,  answered 
briefly  and  bluntly,  with  a  voice  which  was  naturally  harsh  and 
dissonant,  '  All  things  in  their  order,  good  Master  Maire.  Let 
us  first  hear  what  the  Estates  of  Burgundy  have  to  say  to  us  ; 
we  will  then  listen  to  the  burghers  of  Dijon.' 

The  maire  rose  and  retired,  bearing  in  his  hand  the  silver 
cup,  and  experiencing  probably  some  vexation,  as  well  as  sur- 
prise, that  its  contents  had  not  secured  an  instant  and  gracious 
acceptance. 

*  I  expected,'  said  Duke  Charles,  *to  have  met  at  this  hour 
and  place  our  Estates  of  the  duchy  of  Burgundy,  or  a  deputation 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  343 

of  them,  with  an  answer  to  our  message  conveyed  to  them  three 
days  since  by  our  chancellor.  Is  there  no  one  here  on  their 
part  ? ' 

The  maire,  as  none  else  made  any  attempt  to  answer,  said 
that  the  members  of  the  Estates  had  been  in  close  deliberation 
the  whole  of  that  morning,  and  doubtless  would  instantly  wait 
upon  his  Highness  when  they  heard  that  he  had  honoured  the 
town  with  his  presence. 

*  Go,  Toison  d'Or,'  said  the  Duke  to  the  herald  of  the  order  of 
the  Golden  Fleece,^  '  bear  to  these  gentlemen  the  tidings  that  we 
desire  to  know  the  end  of  their  deliberations ;  and  that  neither 
in  courtesy  nor  in  loyalty  can  they  expect  us  to  wait  long.  Be 
round  with  them,  sir  herald,  or  we  shall  be  as  round  with  you.' 

While  the  herald  was  absent  on  his  mission,  we  may  remind 
our  readers  that,  in  all  feudalised  countries  (that  is  to  say,  in 
almost  all  Europe  during  the  middle  ages),  an  ardent  spirit  of 
liberty  pervaded  the  constitution ;  and  the  only  fault  that 
could  be  found  was,  that  the  privileges  and  freedom  for  which 
the  great  vassals  contended  did  not  sufficiently  descend  to  the 
lower  orders  of  society,  or  extend  protection  to  those  who  were 
most  likely  to  need  it.  The  two  first  ranks  in  the  estate,  the 
nobles  and  clergy,  enjoyed  high  and  important  privileges,  and 
even  the  third  estate,  or  citizens,  had  this  immunity  in  peculiar, 
that  no  new  duties,  customs,  or  taxes  of  any  kind  could  be 
exacted  from  them  save  by  their  own  consent. 

The  memory  of  Duke  Philip,  the  father  of  Charles,  was  dear 
to  the  Burgundians ;  for  during  twenty  years  that  sage  prince 
had  maintained  his  rank  amongst  the  sovereigns  of  Europe 
with  much  dignity,  and  had  accumulated  treasure  without  exact- 
ing or  receiving  any  great  increase  of  supplies  from  the  rich 
countries  which  he  governed.  But  the  extravagant  schemes 
and  immoderate  expense  of  Duke  Charles  had  already  excited 
the  suspicion  of  his  Estates ;  and  the  mutual  good- will  betwixt 
the  prince  and  people  began  to  be  exchanged  for  suspicion  and 
distrust  on  the  one  side  and  defiance  on  the  other.  The  re- 
fractory disposition  of  the  Estates  had  of  late  increased,  for 
they  had  disapproved  of  various  wars  in  which  their  Duke  had 
needlessly  embarked  ;  and  from  his  levying  such  large  bodies  of 
mercenary  troops,  they  came  to  suspect  he  might  finally  employ 
the  wealth  voted  to  him  by  his  subjects  for  the  undue  extension 
of  his  royal  prerogative,  and  the  destruction  of  the  liberties  of 
the  people. 

1  The  chief  order  of  knighthood  in  the  state  of  Burgundy. 


344  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

At  the  same  time,  the  Duke's  uniform  success  in  enterprises 
which  appeared  desperate  as  well  as  difficult,  esteem  for  the 
frankness  and  openness  of  his  character,  and  dread  of  the 
obstinacy  and  headstrong  tendency  of  a  temper  which  could 
seldom  bear  persuasion,  and  never  endured  opposition,  still 
threw  awe  and  terror  around  the  throne,  which  was  materially 
aided  by  the  attachment  of  the  common  people  to  the  person 
of  the  present  duke  and  to  the  memory  of  his  father.  It  had 
been  understood,  that  upon  the  present  occasion  there  was 
strong  opposition  amongst  the  Estates  to  the  system  of  taxation 
proposed  on  the  part  of  the  Duke,  and  the  issue  was  expected 
with  considerable  anxiety  by  the  Duke's  counsellors,  and  with 
fretful  impatience  by  the  sovereign  himself. 

After  a  space  of  about  ten  minutes  had  elapsed,  the 
Chancellor  of  Burgundy,  who  was  Archbishop  of  Vienne,  and 
a  prelate  of  high  rank,  entered  the  hall  with  his  train;  and 
passing  behind  the  ducal  throne  to  occupy  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  places  in  the  assembly,  he  stopped  for  a  jnoment 
to  urge  his  master  to  receive  the  answer  of  his  Estates  in  a 
private  manner,  giving  him  at  the  same  time  to  understand 
that  the  result  of  the  deliberations  had  been  by  no  means 
satisfactory. 

*By  St.  George  of  Burgundy,  my  Lord  Archbishop,'  answered 
the  Duke,  sternly  and  aloud,  '  we  are  not  a  prince  of  a  mind  so 
paltry  that  we  need  to  shun  the  moody  looks  of  a  discontented 
and  insolent  faction.  If  the  Estates  of  Burgundy  send  a  dis- 
obedient and  disloyal  answer  to  our  paternal  message,  let 
them  deliver  it  in  open  court,  that  the  assembled  people  may 
learn  how  to  decide  between  their  duke  and  those  petty  yet 
intriguing  spirits  who  would  interfere  with  our  authority.' 

The  chancellor  bowed  gravely  and  took  his  seat ;  while  the 
English  earl  observed,  that  most  of  the  members  of  the  assem- 
bly, excepting  such  as  in  doing  so  could  not  escape  the  Duke's 
notice,  passed  some  observations  to  their  neighbours,  which 
were  received  with  a  half-expressed  nod,  shrug,  or  shake  of  the 
head,  as  men  treat  a  proposal  upon  which  it  is  dangerous  to 
decide.  At  the  same  time,  Toison  d'Or,  who  acted  as  master 
of  the  ceremonies,  introduced  into  the  hall  a  committee  of  the 
Estates,  consisting  of  twelve  members,  four  from  each  branch 
of  the  Estates,  announced  as  empowered  to  deliver  the  answer 
of  that  assembly  to  the  Duke  of  Burgundy. 

"When  the  deputation  entered  the  hall,  Charles  arose  from 
his  throne,  according  to  ancient  custom,  and  taking  from  his 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  845 

head  his  bonnet,  charged  with  a  huge  plume  of  feathers,  *  Health 
and  welcome,'  he  said,  '  to  my  good  subjects  of  the  Estates  of 
Burgundy  ! '  All  the  numerous  train  of  courtiers  rose  and  un- 
covered their  heads  with  the  same  ceremony.  The  members 
of  the  states  then  dropped  on  one  knee,  the  four  ecclesiastics, 
among  whom  Oxford  recognised  the  black  priest  of  St.  Paul's, 
approaching  nearest  to  the  Duke's  person,  the  nobles  kneeling 
behind  them,  and  the  burgesses  in  the  rear  of  the  whole. 

'Noble  Duke,'  said  the  priest  of  St.  Paul's,  'will  it  best 
please  you  to  hear  the  answer  of  your  good  and  loyal  Estates 
of  Burgundy  by  the  voice  of  one  member  speaking  for  the  whole, 
or  by  three  persons,  each  delivering  the  sense  of  the  body  to 
which  he  belongs  1 ' 

'As  you  will,'  said  the  Duke  of  Burgundy. 

*  A  priest,  a  noble,  and  a  free  burgher,'  said  the  churchman, 
still  on  one  knee,  '  will  address  your  Highness  in  succession. 
For  though,  blessed  be  the  God  who  leads  brethren  to  dwell 
together  in  unity  !  we  are  agreed  in  the  general  answer,  yet 
each  body  of  the  Estates  may  have  special  and  separate  reasons 
to  allege  for  the  common  opinion.' 

'We  will  hear  you  separately,'  said  Duke  Charles,  casting 
his  hat  upon  his  head,  and  throwing  himself  carelessly  back 
into  his  seat.  At  the  same  time,  all  who  were  of  noble  blood, 
whether  in  the  committee  or  amongst  the  spectators,  vouched 
their  right  to  be  peers  of  their  sovereign  by  assuming  their 
bonnets ;  and  a  cloud  of  waving  plumes  at  once  added  grace 
and  dignity  to  the  assembly. 

When  the  Duke  resumed  his  seat,  the  deputation  arose  from 
their  knees,  and  the  black  priest  of  St.  Paul's,  again  stepping 
forth,  addressed  him  in  these  words  :  — 

'My  Lord  Duke,  your  loyal  and  faithful  clergy  have  con- 
sidered your  Highness's  proposal  to  lay  a  talliage  on  your 
people,  in  order  to  make  war  on  the  Confederate  Cantons  in  the 
country  of  the  Alps.  The  quarrel,  my  liege  lord,  seems  to 
your  clergy  an  unjust  and  oppressive  one  on  your  Highness's 
part ;  nor  can  they  hope  that  God  will  bless  those  who  arm  in  it. 
They  are  therefore  compelled  to  reject  your  Highness's  proposal.' 

The  Duke's  ej^e  lowered  gloomily  on  the  deliverer  of  this 
unpalatable  message.  He  shook  his  head  with  one  of  those 
stern  and  menacing  looks  which  the  harsh  composition  of  his 
features  rendered  them  peculiarly  qualified  to  express.  *  You 
have  spoken,  sir  priest,'  was  the  only  reply  which  he  deigned 
to  make. 


346  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

One  of  the  four  nobles,  the  Sire  de  Myrebeau,  then  expressed 
himself  thus  :  — 

'  Your  Highness  has  asked  of  your  faithful  nobles  to  consent 
to  new  imposts  and  exactions,  to  be  levied  through  Burgundy, 
for  the  raising  of  additional  bands  of  hired  soldiers  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  quarrels  of  the  state.  My  lord,  the  swords 
of  the  Burgundian  nobles,  knights,  and  gentlemen  have  been 
ever  at  your  Highness's  command,  as  those  of  our  ancestors 
have  been  readily  wielded  for  your  predecessors.  In  your 
Highness's  just  quarrel  we  will  go  farther,  and  fight  firmer, 
than  any  hired  fellows  who  can  be  procured,  whether  fi"om 
France,  or  Germany,  or  Italy.  We  will  not  give  our  consent 
that  the  people  should  be  taxed  for  paying  mercenaries  to  dis- 
charge that  military  duty  which  it  is  alike  our  pride  and  our 
exclusive  privilege  to  render.' 

*  You  have  spoken.  Sire  de  Myrebeau,'  were  again  the  only 
words  of  the  Duke's  reply.  He  uttered  them  slowly  and  with 
deliberation,  as  if  afraid  lest  some  phrase  of  imprudent  violence 
should  escape  along  with  what  he  purposed  to  say.  Oxford 
thought  he  cast  a  glance  towards  him  before  he  spoke,  as  if 
the  consciousness  of  his  presence  was  some  additional  restraint 
on  his  passion.  '  Now,  Heaven  grant,'  he  said  to  himself,  *  that 
this  opposition  may  work  its  proper  effect,  and  induce  the  Duke 
to  renounce  an  imprudent  attempt,  so  hazardous  and  so  un- 
necessary ! ' 

While  he  muttered  these  thoughts,  the  Duke  made  a  sign  to 
one  of  the  tiers  etat,  or  commons,  to  speak  in  his  turn.  The 
person  who  obeyed  the  signal  was  Martin  Block,  a  wealthy 
butcher  and  grazier  of  Dijon.  His  words  were  these  :  —  '  Noble 
Prince,  our  fathers  were  the  dutiful  subjects  of  your  prede- 
cessors; we  are  the  same  to  you;  our  children  will  be  alike 
the  liegemen  of  your  successors.  But,  touching  the  request 
your  chancellor  has  made  to  us,  it  is  such  as  our  ancestors  never 
complied  with,  such  as  we  are  determined  to  refuse,  and  such 
as  will  never  be  conceded  by  the  Estates  of  Burgundy  to  any 
prince  whatsoever,  even  to  the  end  of  time.' 

Charles  had  borne  with  impatient  silence  the  speeches  of  the 
two  former  orators ;  but  this  blunt  and  hardy  reply  of  the  third 
Estate  excited  him  beyond  what  his  nature  could  endure.  He 
gave  way  to  the  impetuosity  of  his  disposition,  stamped  on  the 
floor  till  the  throne  shook  and  the  high  vault  rung  over  their 
heads,  and  overwhelmed  the  bold  burgher  with  reproaches. 
*  Beast  of  burden,'  he  said,  'am  I  to  be  stunned  with  thy  bray- 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  347 

ing,  too  1  The  nobles  may  claim  leave  to  speak,  for  they  can 
fight ;  the  clergy  may  use  their  tongues,  for  it  is  their  trade ; 
but  thou,  that  hast  never  shed  blood,  save  that  of  bullocks 
less  stupid  than  thou  art  thyself — must  thou  and  thy  herd 
come  hither,  privileged,  forsooth,  to  bellow  at  a  prince's  foot- 
stool 1  Know,  brute  as  thou  art,  that  steers  are  never  intro- 
duced into  temples  but  to  be  sacrificed,  or  butchers  and 
mechanics  brought  before  their  sovereign,  save  that  they  may 
have  the  honour  to  supply  the  public  wants  fi-om  their  own 
swelling  hoards ! ' 

A  murmur  of  displeasure,  which  even  the  terror  of  the  Duke's 
wrath  could  not  repress,  ran  through  the  audience  at  these 
words ;  and  the  burgher  of  Dijon,  a  sturdy  plebeian,  replied, 
with  little  reverence  — '  Our  purses,  my  Lord  Duke,  are  our 
own ;  we  will  not  put  the  strings  of  them  into  your  Highness's 
hands,  unless  we  are  satisfied  with  the  purposes  to  which  the 
money  is  to  be  applied  ;  and  we  know  well  how  to  protect  our 
persons  and  our  goods  against  foreign  ruffians  and  plunderers.' 

Charles  was  on  the  point  of  ordering  the  deputy  to  be 
arrested,  when,  having  cast  his  eye  towards  the  Earl  of  Oxford, 
whose  presence,  in  despite  of  himself,  imposed  a  certain  degree 
of  restraint  upon  him,  he  exchanged  that  piece  of  imprudence  for 
another. 

'I  see,'  he  said,  addressing  the  committee  of  Estates,  *that 
you  are  all  leagued  to  disappoint  my  purposes,  and  doubt- 
less to  deprive  me  of  all  the  power  of  a  sovereign  save  that 
of  wearing  a  coronet,  and  being  served  on  the  knee  like  a 
second  Charles  the  Simple,  while  the  Estates  of  my  kingdom 
divide  the  power  among  them.  But  you  shall  know  that  you 
have  to  do  with  Charles  of  Burgundy  —  a  prince  who,  though 
he  has  deigned  to  consult  you,  is  fully  able  to  fight  battles 
without  the  aid  of  his  nobles,  since  they  refuse  him  the  assist- 
ance of  their  swords ;  to  defray  the  expense  without  the  help 
of  his  sordid  burghers ;  and,  it  may  be,  to  find  out  a  path  to 
Heaven  without  the  assistance  of  an  ungrateful  priesthood.  I 
will  show  all  that  are  here  present  how  little  my  mind  is 
affected,  or  my  purpose  changed,  by  your  seditious  reply  to 
the  message  with  which  I  honoured  you.  Here,  Toison  d'Or, 
admit  into  our  presence  these  men  from  the  confederated 
towns  and  cantons,  as  they  call  themselves,  of  Switzerland.' 

Oxford,  and  all  who  really  interested  themselves  in  the 
Duke's  welfare,  heard,  with  the  utmost  apprehension,  his  reso- 
lution to  give  an  audience  to  the  Swiss  envoys,  prepossessed 


848  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

as  he  was  against  them,  and  in  the  moment  when  his  mood  was 
chafed  to  the  uttermost  by  the  refusal  of  the  Estates  to  grant 
him  supplies.  They  were  aware  that  obstacles  opposed  to  the 
current  of  his  passion  were  like  rocks  in  the  bed  of  a  river, 
whose  course  they  cannot  interrupt,  while  they  provoke  it  to 
rage  and  foam.  All  were  sensible  that  the  die  was  cast,  but 
none  who  were  not  endowed  with  more  than  mortal  prescience 
could  have  imagined  how  deep  was  the  pledge  which  depended 
upon  it.  Oxford,  in  particular,  conceived  that  the  execution  of 
his  plan  of  a  descent  upon  England  was  the  principal  point 
compromised  by  the  Duke  in  his  rash  obstinacy ;  but  he  sus- 
pected not  —  he  dreamed  not  of  supposing  —  that  the  life  of 
Charles  himself,  and  the  independence  of  Burgundy  as  a  separate 
kingdom,  hung  quivering  in  the  same  scales. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

Why,  't  is  a  boisterous  and  cruel  style, 

A  style  for  challengers.     Why,  she  defies  us, 

Like  Turk  to  Christian. 

As  You  Like  It. 

THE  doors  of  the  hall  were  now  opened  to  the  Swiss 
deputies,  who  for  the  preceding  hour  had  been  kept  in 
attendance  on  the  outside  of  the  building,  without  re- 
ceiving the  slightest  of  those  attentions  which  among  civilised 
nations  are  universally  paid  to  the  representatives  of  a  foreign 
state.  Indeed,  their  very  appearance,  dressed  in  coarse  grey 
frocks,  like  mountain  hunters  or  shepherds,  in  the  midst  of  an 
assembly  blazing  with  divers-coloured  garments,  gold  and  silver 
lace,  embroidery,  and  precious  stones,  served  to  confirm  the 
idea  that  they  could  only  have  come  hither  in  the  capacity  of 
the  most  humble  petitioners. 

Oxford,  however,  who  watched  closely  the  deportment  of  his 
late  fellow-travellers,  failed  not  to  observe  that  they  retained 
each  in  his  own  person  the  character  of  firmness  and  indifference 
which  formerly  distinguished  them.  Rudolph  Donnerhugel 
preserved  his  bold  and  haughty  look ;  the  banneret,  the  military 
indifibrence  which  made  him  look  with  apparent  apathy  on  all 
around  him ;  the  burgher  of  Soleure  was  as  formal  and  im- 
portant as  ever ;  nor  did  any  of  the  three  show  themselves 
affected  in  the  slightest  degree  by  the  splendour  of  the  scene 
around  them,  or  embarrassed  by  the  consideration  of  their  own 
comparative  inferiority  of  appointments.  But  the  noble  Lan- 
damman,  on  whom  Oxford  chiefly  bent  his  attention,  seemed 
overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  the  precarious  state  in  which  his 
country  was  placed,  fearing,  from  the  rude  and  unhonoured 
manner  in  which  they  were  received,  that  war  was  unavoidable, 
while,  at  the  same  time,  like  a  good  patriot,  he  mourned  over 
the  consequences  of  ruin  to  the  freedom  of  his  country  by 
defeat,  or  injury  to  her  simplicity  and  virtuous  indifference  of 


350  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

wealth  by  the  introduction  of  foreign  luxuries  and  the  evils 
attending  on  conquest. 

Well  acquainted  with  the  opinions  of  Arnold  Biederman, 
Oxford  could  easily  explain  his  sadness,  while  his  comrade 
Bonstetten,  less  capable  of  comprehending  his  friend's  feelings, 
looked  at  him  with  the  expression  which  may  be  seen  in  the 
countenance  of  a  faithful  dog,  when  the  creature  indicates 
S3mapathy  with  his  master's  melancholy,  though  unable  to  ascer- 
tain or  appreciate  its  cause.  A  look  of  wonder  now  and  then 
glided  around  the  splendid  assembly  on  the  part  of  all  the 
forlorn  group,  excepting  Donnerhugel  and  the  Landamman  ;  for 
the  indomitable  pride  of  the  one  and  the  steady  patriotism  of 
the  other  could  not  for  even  an  instant  be  diverted  by  external 
objects  from  their  own  deep  and  stern  reflections. 

After  a  silence  of  nearly  five  minutes,  the  Duke  spoke,  with 
the  haughty  and  harsh  manner  which  he  might  imagine  belonged 
to  his  place,  and  which  certainly  expressed  his  character. 

*  Men  of  Berne,  of  Schwytz,  or  of  whatever  hamlet  and  wil- 
derness you,  may  represent,  know  that  we  had  not  honoured 
you,  rebels  as  you  are  to  the  dominion  of  your  lawful  superiors, 
with  an  audience  in  our  own  presence,  but  for  the  intercession 
of  a  well-esteemed  friend,  who  has  sojourned  among  your 
mountains,  and  whom  you  may  know  by  the  name  of  Philipson, 
an  Englishman,  following  the  trade  of  a  merchant,  and  charged 
with  certain  valuable  matters  of  traffic  to  our  court.  To  his 
intercession  we  have  so  far  given  way,  that,  instead  of  com- 
manding you,  according  to  your  demerits,  to  the  gibbet  and 
the  wheel  in  the  Place  de  Morimont,  we  have  condescended  to 
receive  you  into  our  own  presence,  sitting  in  our  cour  pleni^re,  to 
hear  from  you  such  submission  as  you  can  offer  for  your  out- 
rageous storm  of  our  town  of  La  Ferette,  the  slaughter  of  many 
of  our  liegemen,  and  the  deliberate  murder  of  the  noble  knight, 
Archibald  of  Hagenbach,  executed  in  your  presence,  and  by 
your  countenance  and  device.  Speak,  if  you  can  say  aught  in 
defence  of  your  felony  and  treason,  either  to  deprecate  just 
punishment  or  crave  undeserved  mercy.' 

The  Landamman  seemed  about  to  answer;  but  Rudolph 
Donnerhugel,  with  his  characteristic  boldness  and  hardihood, 
took  the  task  of  reply  on  himself  He  confronted  the  proud 
Duke  with  an  eye  unappalled,  and  a  countenance  as  stern  as 
his  own. 

*  We  came  not  here,'  he  said,  *  to  compromise  our  own  honour, 
or  the  dignity  of  the  free  people  whom  we  represent,  by  pleading 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  351 

guilty  in  their  name  or  our  own  to  crimes  of  which  we  are 
innocent.  And  when  you  term  us  rebels,  you  must  remember 
that  a  long  train  of  victories,  whose  history  is  written  in  the 
noblest  blood  of  Austria,  has  restored  to  the  confederacy  of  our 
communities  the  freedom  of  which  an  unjust  tyranny  in  vain 
attempted  to  deprive  us.  While  Austria  was  a  just  and  benefi- 
cent mistress,  we  served  her  with  our  lives ;  when  she  became 
oppressive  and  tyrannical,  we  assumed  independence.  If  she 
has  aught  yet  to  claim  from  us,  the  descendants  of  Tell,  Faust, 
and  Stauffaucher  will  be  as  ready  to  assert  their  liberties  as 
their  fathers  were  to  gain  them.  Your  Grace  —  if  such  be  your 
title  —  has  no  concern  with  any  dispute  betwixt  us  and  Austria. 
For  your  threats  of  gibbet  and  wheel,  we  are  here  defenceless 
men,  on  whom  you  may  work  your  pleasure ;  but  we  know  how 
to  die,  and  our  countrymen  know  how  to  avenge  us.' 

The  fiery  Duke  would  have  replied  by  commanding  the  in- 
stant arrest,  and  probably  the  immediate  execution,  of  the 
whole  deputation.  But  his  chancellor,  availing  himself  of  the 
privilege  of  his  office,  rose,  and,  doffing  his  cap  with  a  deep 
reverence  to  the  Duke,  requested  leave  to  reply  to  the  misproud 
young  man,  who  had,  he  said,  so  greatly  mistaken  the  purpose 
of  his  Highness's  speech. 

Charles,  feeling  perhaps  at  the  moment  too  much  irritated 
to  form  a  calm  decision,  threw  himself  back  in  his  chair  of 
state,  and  with  an  impatient  and  angry  nod  gave  his  chan- 
cellor permission  to  speak. 

'  Young  man,'  said  that  high  officer,  '  you  have  mistaken  the 
meaning  of  the  high  and  mighty  sovereign  in  whose  presence 
you  stand.  Whatever  be  the  lawful  rights  of  Austria  over  the 
revolted  villages  which  have  flung  off  their  allegiance  to  their 
native  superior,  we  have  no  call  to  enter  on  that  argument. 
But  that  for  which  Burgundy  demands  your  answer  is  where- 
fore, coming  here  in  the  guise  and  with  the  character  of 
peaceful  envoys,  on  affairs  touching  your  own  communities  and 
the  rights  of  the  Duke's  subjects,  you  have  raised  war  in  our 
peaceful  dominions,  stormed  a  fortress,  massacred  its  garrison, 
and  put  to  death  a  noble  knight,  its  commander  ?  —  all  of  them 
actions  contrary  to  the  law  of  nations,  and  highly  deserving  of 
the  punishment  with  which  you  have  been  justly  threatened, 
but  with  which  I  hope  our  gracious  sovereign  will  dispense,  if 
you  express  some  sufficient  reason  for  such  outrageous  insolence, 
with  an  offer  of  due  submission  to  his  Highness's  pleasure,  and 
satisfactory  reparation  for  such  a  high  injury.' 


352  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*You  are  a  priest,  grave  sirT  answered  Rudolph  Donner- 
hugel,  addressing  the  Chancellor  of  Burgundy.  *  If  there  be  a 
soldier  in  this  assembly  who  will  avouch  your  charge,  I  challenge 
him  to  the  combat,  man  to  man.  We  did  not  storm  the  gar- 
rison of  La  Ferette :  we  were  admitted  into  the  gates  in  a 
peaceful  manner,  and  were  there  instantly  surrounded  by  the 
soldiers  of  the  late  Archibald  de  Hagenbach,  with  the  obvious 
purpose  of  assaulting  and  murdering  us  on  our  peaceful  mission. 
I  promise  you  there  had  been  news  of  more  men  dying  than  us. 
But  an  uproar  broke  out  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
assisted,  I  believe,  by  many  neighbours,  to  whom  the  insolence 
and  oppression  of  Archibald  de  Hagenbach  had  become  odious, 
as  to  all  who  were  within  his  reach.  We  rendered  them  no 
assistance;  and,  I  trust,  it  was  not  expected  that  we  should 
interfere  in  the  favour  of  men  who  had  stood  prepared  to  do 
the  worst  against  us.  But  not  a  pike  or  sword  belonging  to  us 
or  our  attendants  was  dipped  in  Burgundian  blood.  Archibald 
de  Hagenbach  perished,  it  is  true,  on  a  scaffold,  and  I  saw  him 
die  with  pleasure,  under  a  sentence  pronounced  by  a  competent 
court,  such  as  is  recognised  in  Westphalia  and  its  dependencies 
on  this  side  of  the  Rhine.  I  am  not  obliged  to  vindicate  their 
proceedings ;  but  I  aver,  that  the  Duke  has  received  full  proof 
of  his  regular  sentence ;  and,  in  fine,  that  it  was  amply  deserved 
by  oppression,  tyranny,  and  foul  abuse  of  his  authority,  I  will 
uphold  against  all  gainsayers,  with  the  body  of  a  man.  There 
lies  my  glove.' 

And,  with  an  action  suited  to  the  language  he  used,  the 
stern  Swiss  flung  his  right-hand  glove  on  the  floor  of  the  hall. 
In  the  spirit  of  the  age,  with  the  love  of  distinction  in  arms 
which  it  nourished,  and  perhaps  with  the  desire  of  gaining  the 
Duke's  favour,  there  was  a  general  motion  among  the  young 
Burgundians  to  accept  the  challenge,  and  more  than  six  or 
eight  gloves  were  hastily  doffed  by  the  young  knights  present, 
those  who  were  more  remote  flinging  them  over  the  heads  of 
the  nearest,  and  each  proclaiming  his  name  and  title  as  he  prof- 
fered the  gage  of  combat. 

*I  set  at  all,'  said  the  daring  young  Swiss,  gathering  the 
gauntlets  as  they  fell  clashing  around  him.  *  More,  gentlemen 
—  more  !  a  glove  for  every  finger !  come  on,  one  at  once  —  fair 
lists,  equal  judges  of  the  field,  the  combat  on  foot,  and  the 
weapons  two-handed  swords,  and  I  will  not  budge  for  a  score 
of  you.' 

*Hold,  gentlemen  —  on  your  allegiance,  hold!'   said  the 


I  set  at  all,'  said  the  daring  young  Swiss." 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  353 

Duke,  gratified  at  the  same  time  and  somewhat  appeased  by 
the  zeal  which  was  displayed  in  his  cause  ;  moved  by  the  strain 
of  reckless  bravery  evinced  by  the  challenger,  with  a  hardihood 
akin  to  his  own ;  perhaps  also  not  unwilling  to  display,  in  the 
view  of  his  cour  plenwre^  more  temperance  than  he  had  been 
at  first  capable  of.  '  Hold,  I  command  you  all.  Toison  d'Or, 
gather  up  these  gauntlets,  and  return  them  each  to  its  owner. 
God  and  St.  George  forbid  that  we  should  hazard  the  life  of 
even  the  least  of  our  noble  Burgundian  gentry  against  such  a 
churl  as  this  Swiss  peasant,  who  never  so  much  as  mounted 
a  horse,  and  knows  not  a  jot  of  knightly  courtesy  or  the  grace 
of  chivalry.  Carry  your  vulgar  brawls  elsewhere,  young  man, 
and  know  that,  on  the  present  occasion,  the  Place  Morimont 
were  your  only  fitting  lists,  and  the  hangman  your  meet 
antagonist.  And  you,  sirs,  his  companions,  whose  behaviour 
in  suffering  this  swaggerer  to  take  the  lead  amongst  you 
seems  to  show  that  the  laws  of  nature,  as  well  as  of  society, 
are  inverted,  and  that  youth  is  preferred  to  age,  as  peasants 
to  gentry  —  you  white-bearded  men,  I  say,  is  there  none  of 
you  who  can  speak  your  errand  in  such  language  as  it  becomes 
a  sovereign  prince  to  listen  to  % ' 

'God  forbid  else,'  said  the  Landamman,  stepping  forward 
and  silencing  Rudolph  Donnerhugel,  who  was  commencing  an 
answer  of  defiance  —  '  God  forbid,'  he  said,  *  noble  Duke,  that  we 
should  not  be  able  to  speak  so  as  to  be  understood  before  your 
Highness,  since,  I  trust,  we  shall  speak  the  language  of  truth, 
peace,  and  justice.  Nay,  should  it  incline  your  Highness  to 
listen  to  us  the  more  favourably  for  our  humility,  I  am  willing 
to  humble  myself  rather  than  you  should  shun  to  hear  us.  For 
my  own  part,  I  can  truly  say  that,  though  I  have  lived,  and  by 
free  choice  have  resolved  to  die,  a  husbandman  and  a  hunter  on 
the  Alps  of  the  Unterwald,  I  may  claim  by  birth  the  hereditary 
right  to  speak  before  dukes  and  kings,  and  the  Emperor  him- 
self There  is  no  one,  my  Lord  Duke,  in  this  proud  assembly 
who  derives  his  descent  from  a  nobler  source  than  Geierstein.' 

'We  have  heard  of  you,'  said  the  Duke.  ' Men  call  you  the 
peasant  count.  Your  birth  is  your  shame  —  or  perhaps  your 
mother's,  if  your  father  had  happened  to  have  a  handsome  plough- 
man, the  fitting  father  of  one  who  has  become  a  willing  serf.' 

*  No  serf,  my  lord,'  answered  the  Landamman,  '  but  a  free- 
man, who  will  neither  oppress  others  nor  be  himself  t)rrannised 
over.  My  father  was  a  noble  lord,  my  mother  a  most  virtuous 
lady.    But  I  will  not  be  provoked  by  taunt  or  scornful  jest 

VOL,  XXIII  —  23 


354.  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

to  refrain  from  stating  with  calmness  what  my  country  has 
given  me  in  charge  to  say.  The  inhabitants  of  the  bleak  and 
inhospitable  regions  of  the  Alps  desire,  mighty  sir,  to  remain 
at  peace  with  all  their  neighbours,  and  to  enjoy  the  govern- 
ment they  have  chosen,  as  best  fitted  to  their  condition  and 
habits,  leaving  all  other  states  and  countries  to  their  free-will 
in  the  same  respects.  Especially,  they  desire  to  remain  at 
peace  and  in  unity  with  the  princely  house  of  Burgundy,  whose 
dominions  approach  their  possessions  on  so  many  points.  My 
lord,  they  desire  it,  they  entreat  it,  they  even  consent  to 
pray  for  it.  We  have  been  termed  stubborn,  intractable,  and 
insolent  contemners  of  authority,  and  headers  of  sedition  and 
rebellion.  In  evidence  of  the  contrary,  my  Lord  Duke,  I,  who 
never  bent  a  knee  but  to  Heaven,  feel  no  dishonour  in  kneeling 
before  your  Highness,  as  before  a  sovereign  prince  in  the  cour 
pleni^re  of  his  dominions,  where  he  has  a  right  to  exact  hom- 
age from  his  subjects  out  of  duty,  and  from  strangers  out  of 
courtesy.  No  vain  pride  of  mine,'  said  the  noble  old  man,  his 
eyes  swelling  with  tears,  as  he  knelt  on  one  knee,  shall  prevent 
me  from  personal  humiliation,  when  peace  —  that  blessed  peace, 
so  dear  to  God,  so  inappreciably  valuable  to  man  —  is  in  danger 
of  being  broken  off.' 

The  whole  assembly,  even  the  Duke  himself,  were  affected 
by  the  noble  and  stately  manner  in  which  the  brave  old  man 
made  a  genuflection,  which  was  obviously  dictated  by  neither 
meanness  nor  timidity.  'Arise,  sir,'  said  Charles;  'if  we  have 
said  aught  which  can  wound  your  private  feelings,  we  retract 
it  as  publicly  as  the  reproach  was  spoken,  and  sit  prepared  to 
hear  you,  as  a  fair-meaning  envoy.' 

'  For  that,  my  noble  lord,  thanks ;  and  I  shall  hold  it  a 
blessed  day  if  I  can  find  words  worthy  of  the  cause  I  have  to 
plead.  My  lord,  a  schedule  in  your  Highness's  hands  has  stated 
the  sense  of  many  injuries  received  at  the  hand  of  your  High- 
ness's officers,  and  those  of  Romont  Count  of  Savoy,  your  strict 
ally  and  adviser,  we  have  a  right  to  suppose,  under  your  High- 
ness's countenance.  For  Count  Romont,  he  has  already  felt 
with  whom  he  has  to  contend ;  but  we  have  as  yet  taken  no 
measures  to  avenge  injuries,  affronts,  interruptions  to  our  com- 
merce, from  those  who  have  availed  themselves  of  your  High- 
ness's authority  to  intercept  our  countrymen,  spoil  our  goods, 
impress  their  persons,  and  even,  in  some  instances,  take  their 
lives.  The  affray  at  La  Ferette  —  I  can  vouch  for  what  I 
Baw  —  had  no  origin  or  abettance  from  us ;  nevertheless,  it  ia 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  355 

impossible  an  independent  nation  can  suffer  the  repetition  of 
such  injuries,  and  free  and  independent  we  are  determined  to 
remain,  or  to  die  in  defence  of  our  rights.  What,  then,  must 
follow,  unless  your  Highness  listens  to  the  terms  which  I  am 
commissioned  to  offer  ?  War  —  a  war  to  extermination  ;  for 
so  long  as  one  of  our  confederacy  can  wield  a  halberd,  so  long, 
if  this  fatal  strife  once  commences,  there  will  be  war  betwixt 
your  powerful  realms  and  our  poor  and  barren  states.  And 
what  can  the  noble  Duke  of  Burgundy  gain  by  such  a  strife  ? 
Is  it  wealth  and  plunder  1  Alas,  my  lord,  there  is  more  gold 
and  silver  on  the  very  bridle-bits  of  your  Highness's  household 
troops  than  can  be  found  in  the  public  treasures  or  private 
hoards  of  our  whole  confederacy.  Is  it  fame  and  glory  you 
aspire  to  ?  There  is  little  honour  to  be  won  by  a  numerous 
army  over  a  few  scattered  bands,  by  men  clad  in  mail  over 
half-armed  husbandmen  and  shepherds  —  of  such  conquest  small 
were  the  glory.  But  if,  as  aU  Christian  men  believe,  and  as  it 
is  the  constant  trust  of  my  countrymen,  from  memory  of  the 
times  of  our  fathers  —  if  the  Lord  of  Hosts  should  cast  the 
balance  in  behalf  of  the  fewer  numbers  and  worse-armed  party, 
I  leave  it  with  your  Highness  to  judge  what  would,  in  that 
event,  be  the  diminution  of  worship  and  fame.  Is  it  extent  of 
vassalage  and  dominion  your  Highness  desires,  by  warring 
with  your  mountain  neighbours  1  Know  that  you  rnay,  if  it 
be  God's  will,  gain  our  barren  and  rugged  mountains;  but, 
like  our  ancestors  of  old,  we  will  seek  refuge  in  wilder  and 
more  distant  solitudes,  and  when  we  have  resisted  to  the  last, 
we  wiU  starve  in  the  icy  wastes  of  the  glaciers.  Ay,  men, 
women,  and  children,  we  wiU  be  frozen  into  annihilation  to- 
gether, ere  one  free  Switzer  wiU  acknowledge  a  foreign  master.' 
The  speech  of  the  Landamman  made  an  obvious  impression 
on  the  assembly.  The  Duke  observed  it,  and  his  hereditary 
obstinacy  was  irritated  by  the  general  disposition  which  he 
saw  entertained  in  favour  of  the  ambassador.  This  evil  prin- 
ciple overcame  some  impression  which  the  address  of  the  noble 
Biederman  had  not  failed  to  make  upon  him.  He  answered 
with  a  lowering  brow,  interrupting  the  old  man  as  he  was 
about  to  continue  his  speech  — '  You  argue  falsely,  sir  count, 
or  sir  landamman,  or  by  whatever  name  you  call  yourself,  if 
you  think  we  war  on  you  from  any  hope  of  spoil,  or  any  desire 
of  glory.  We  know  as  well  as  you  can  tell  us  that  there  is 
neither  profit  nor  fame  to  be  achieved  by  conquering  you.  But 
sovereigns,  to  whom  Heaven  has  given  the  power,  must  root 


356  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

out  a  band  of  robbers,  though  there  is  dishonour  in  measuring 
swords  with  them ;  and  we  hunt  to  death  a  herd  of  wolves, 
though  their  flesh  is  carrion  and  their  skins  are  nought.' 

The  Landamman  shook  his  grey  head,  and  replied,  without 
testifying  emotion,  and  even  with  something  approaching  to  a 
smile — 'I  am  an  older  woodsman  than  you,  my  Lord  Duke, 
and,  it  may  be,  a  more  experienced  one.  The  boldest,  the 
hardiest  hunter  will  not  safely  drive  the  wolf  to  his  den.  I 
have  shown  your  Highness  the  poor  chance  of  gain  and  the 
great  risk  of  loss,  which  even  you,  powerful  as  you  are,  must 
incur  by  risking  a  war  with  determined  and  desperate  men. 
Let  me  now  tell  what  we  are  willing  to  do  to  secure  a  sincere 
and  lasting  peace  with  our  powerful  neighbour  of  Burgundy. 
Your  Grace  is  in  the  act  of  engrossing  Lorraine,  and  it  seems 
probable,  under  so  vigorous  and  enterprising  a  prince,  your 
authority  may  be  extended  to  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean ; 
be  our  noble  friend  and  sincere  ally,  and  our  mountains,  de- 
fended by  warriors  familiar  with  victory,  will  be  your  barriers 
against  Germany  and  Italy.  For  your  sake  we  will  admit  the 
Count  of  Savoy  to  terms,  and  restore  to  him  our  conquests,  on 
such  conditions  as  your  Highness  shall  yourself  judge  reason- 
able. Of  past  subjects  of  offence  on  the  part  of  your  lieutenants 
and  governors  upon  the  frontier  we  will  be  silent,  so  we  have 
assurance  of  no  such  aggressions  in  future.  Nay  more,  and  it 
is  my  last  and  proudest  offer,  we  will  send  three  thousand  of 
our  youth  to  assist  your  Highness  in  any  war  which  you  may 
engage  in,  whether  against  Louis  of  France  or  the  Emperor  of 
Germany.  They  are  a  different  set  of  men  —  proudly  and  truly 
may  I  state  it  —  from  the  scum  of  Germany  and  Italy,  who 
form  themselves  into  mercenary  bands  of  soldiers.  And,  if 
Heaven  should  decide  your  Highness  to  accept  our  offer,  there 
will  be  one  corps  in  your  army  which  will  leave  their  carcasses 
on  the  field  ere  a  man  of  them  break  their  plighted  troth.' 

A  swarthy,  but  tall  and  handsome,  man,  wearing  a  corslet 
richly  engraved  with  arabesque  work,  started  from  his  seat 
with  the  air  of  one  provoked  beyond  the  bounds  of  restraint. 
This  was  the  Count  de  Campo-basso,  commander  of  Charles's 
Italian  mercenaries,  who  possessed,  as  has  been  alluded  to, 
much  influence  over  the  Duke's  mind,  chiefly  obtained  by 
accommodating  himself  to  his  master's  opinions  and  prejudices, 
and  placing  before  the  Duke  specious  arguments  to  justify  him 
for  following  his  own  way. 

'This  lofty  presence  must  excuse  me,'  he  said,  'if  I  speak 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  357 

in  defence  of  my  honour,  and  those  of  my  bold  lances,  who 
have  followed  my  fortunes  from  Italy  to  serve  the  bravest 
prince  in  Christendom.  I  might,  indeed,  pass  over  without 
resentment  the  outrageous  language  of  this  grey-haired  churl, 
whose  words  cannot  affect  a  knight  and  a  nobleman  more  than 
the  yelling  of  a  peasant's  mastiff.  But  when  I  hear  him 
propose  to  associate  his  bands  of  mutinous,  misgoverned  ruffians 
with  your  Highness's  troops,  I  must  let  him  know  that  there 
is  not  a  horse-boy  in  my  ranks  who  would  fight  in  such  fellow- 
ship. No,  even  I  myself,  bound  by  a  thousand  ties  of  grati- 
tude, could  not  submit  to  strive  abreast  with  such  comrades. 
I  would  fold  up  my  banners,  and  lead  five  thousand  men  to 
seek  —  not  a  nobler  master,  for  the  world  has  none  such  — 
but  wars  in  which  we  might  not  be  obliged  to  blush  for  our 
assistants.' 

'  Silence,  Campo-basso,'  said  the  Duke,  *  and  be  assured  you 
serve  a  prince  who  knows  your  worth  too  well  to  exchange  it 
for  the  untried  and  untrustful  services  of  those  whom  we  have 
only  known  as  vexatious  and  malignant  neighbours.' 

Then  addressing  himself  to  Arnold  Biederman,  he  said 
coldly  and  sternly,  '  Sir  Landamman,  we  have  heard  you  fairly. 
We  have  heard  you,  although  you  come  before  us  with  hands 
dyed  deep  in  the  blood  of  our  servant,  Sir  Archibald  de  Hagen- 
bach ;  for,  supposing  he  was  murdered  by  a  villainous  associa- 
tion —  which,  by  St.  George  !  shall  never,  while  we  live  and 
reign,  raise  its  pestilential  head  on  this  side  of  the  Rhine  — 
yet  it  is  not  the  less  undeniable  and  undenied,  that  you  stood 
by  in  arms,  and  encouraged  the  deed  the  assassins  performed 
under  your  countenance.  Return  to  your  mountains,  and  be 
thankful  that  you  return  in  life.  Tell  those  who  sent  you  that 
I  will  be  presently  on  their  frontiers.  A  deputation  of  your 
most  notable  persons,  who  meet  me  with  halters  round  their 
necks,  torches  in  their  left  hands,  in  their  right  their  swords 
held  by  the  point,  may  learn  on  what  conditions  we  will  grant 
you  peace.' 

'  Then  farewell  peace,  and  welcome  war,'  said  the  Landam- 
man ;  '  and  be  its  plagues  and  curses  on  the  heads  of  those 
who  choose  blood  and  strife  rather  than  peace  and  union ! 
We  will  meet  you  on  our  frontiers  with  our  naked  swords,  but 
the  hilts,  not  their  points,  shall  be  in  our  grasp.  Charles  of 
Burgundy,  Flanders,  and  Lorraine,  Duke  of  seven  dukedoms, 
Count  of  seventeen  earldoms,  I  bid  you  defiance ;  and  declare 
war  against  you  in  the  name  of  the  Confederated  Cantons,  and 


358  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

such  others  as  shall  adhere  to  them.  There,'  he  said,  'are  my 
letters  of  defiance.' 

The  herald  took  from  Arnold  Biederman  the  fatal  denuncia- 
tion. 

'  Read  it  not,  Toison  d'Or  ! '  said  the  haughty  Duke.  *  Let 
the  executioner  drag  it  through  the  streets  at  his  horse's  tail, 
and  nail  it  to  the  gibbet,  to  show  in  what  account  we  hold  the 
paltry  scroll,  and  those  who  sent  it.  Away,  sirs,'  speaking  to 
the  Swiss,  *  trudge  back  to  your  wildernesses  with  such  haste 
as  your  feet  can  use.  When  we  next  meet,  you  shall  better 
know  whom  you  have  offended.  Get  our  horse  ready;  the 
council  is  broken  up.' 

The  maire  of  Dijon,  when  all  were  in  motion  to  leave  the 
hall,  again  approached  the  Duke,  and  timidly  expressed  some 
hopes  that  his  Highness  would  deign  to  partake  of  a  banquet 
which  the  magistracy  had  prepared,  in  expectation  he  might  do 
them  such  an  honour. 

'No,  by  St.  George  of  Burgundy,  sir  maire,^  said  Charles, 
with  one  of  the  withering  glances  by  which  he  was  wont  to 
express  indignation  mixed  with  contempt ;  '  you  have  not 
pleased  us  so  well  with  our  breakfast  as  to  induce  us  to  trust 
our  dinner  to  the  loyalty  of  our  good  town  of  Dijon.' 

So  sajang,  he  rudely  turned  off  from  the  mortified  chief  mag- 
istrate, and,  mounting  his  horse,  rode  back  to  his  camp,  con- 
versing earnestly  on  the  way  with  the  Count  of  Campo-basso. 

*I  would  offer  you  dinner,  my  Lord  of  Oxford,'  said  Colvin 
to  that  nobleman,  when  he  alighted  at  his  tent,  '  but  I  foresee, 
ere  you  could  swallow  a  mouthful,  you  will  be  summoned  to 
the  Duke's  presence ;  for  it  is  our  Charles's  way,  when  he  has 
fixed  on  a  wrong  course,  to  wrangle  with  his  friends  and  coun- 
sellors, in  order  to  prove  it  is  a  right  one.  Marry,  he  always 
makes  a  convert  of  yon  supple  Italian.' 

Colvin's  augury  was  speedily  realised,  for  a  page  almost 
immediately  summoned  the  English  merchant,  Philipson,  to 
attend  the  Duke.  Without  waiting  an  instant,  Charles  poured 
forth  an  incoherent  tide  of  reproaches  against  the  Estates  of 
his  dukedom,  for  refusing  him  their  countenance  in  so  slight  a 
matter,  and  launched  out  in  explanations  of  the  necessity  which 
he  alleged  there  was  for  punishing  the  audacity  of  the  Swiss. 
'  And  thou,  too,  Oxford,'  he  concluded,  *  art  such  an  impatient 
fool  as  to  wish  me  to  indulge  in  a  distant  war  with  England, 
and  transport  forces  over  the  sea,  when  I  have  such  insolent 
mutineers  to  chastise  on  my  own  frontiers  T 


ANNE  OF  G^IERSTEIN  359 

When  he  was  at  length  silent,  the  English  earl  laid  before 
him,  with  respectful  earnestness,  the  danger  that  appeared  to 
be  involved  in  engaging  with  a  people,  poor  indeed,  but  uni- 
versally dreaded,  from  their  discipline  and  courage,  and  that 
under  the  eye  of  so  dangerous  a  rival  as  Louis  of  France,  who 
was  sure  to  support  the  Duke's  enemies  underhand,  if  he  did 
not  join  them  openly.  On  this  point  the  Duke's  resolution 
was  immovable.  'It  shall  never,'  he  said,  'be  told  of  me,  that 
I  uttered  threats  which  I  dared  not  execute.  These  boors  have 
declared  war  against  me,  and  they  shall  learn  whose  wrath  it  is 
that  they  have  wantonly  provoked ;  but  I  do  not,  therefore,  re- 
nounce thy  scheme,  my  good  Oxford.  If  thou  canst  procure  me 
this  same  cession  of  Provence,  and  induce  old  Ren^  to  give  up 
the  cause  of  his  grandson,  Ferrand  of  Vaudemont,  in  Lorraine, 
thou  wilt  make  it  well  worth  my  while  to  send  thee  brave  aid 
against  my  brother  Blackburn,  who,  while  he  is  drinking  healths 
pottle-deep  in  France,  may  well  come  to  lose  his  lands  in  Eng- 
land. And  be  not  impatient  because  I  cannot  at  this  very  in- 
stant send  men  across  the  seas.  The  march  which  I  am  making 
towards  Neufchatel,  which  is,  I  think,  the  nearest  point  where 
I  shall  find  these  churls,  will  be  but  like  a  morning's  excur- 
sion. I  trust  you  will  go  with  us,  old  companion.  I  should 
like  to  see  if  you  have  forgotten,  among  yonder  mountains, 
how  to  back  a  horse  and  lay  a  lance  in  rest.' 

*I  wiU  wait  on  your  Highness,'  said  the  Earl,  'as  is  my 
duty,  for  my  motions  must  depend  on  your  pleasure.  But  I 
wiU  not  carry  arms,  especially  against  those  people  of  Helvetia, 
from  whom  I  have  experienced  hospitahty,  unless  it  be  for  my 
own  personal  defence.' 

'Well,'  replied  the  Duke,  'e'en  be  it  so;  we  shall  have  in 
you  an  excellent  judge,  to  tell  us  who  best  discharges  his 
devoir  against  the  mountain  clowns.' 

At  this  point  in  the  conversation  there  was  a  knocking  at 
the  entrance  of  the  pavilion,  and  the  Chancellor  of  Burgundy 
presently  entered,  in  great  haste  and  anxiety.  'News,  my 
lord  —  news  of  France  and  England,'  said  the  prelate,  and  then, 
observing  the  presence  of  a  stranger,  he  looked  at  the  Duke 
and  was  silent. 

'It  is  a  faithful  friend,  my  Lord  Bishop,'  said  the  Duke; 
*you  may  tell  your  news  before  him.' 

'It  wiU  soon  be  generally  known,'  said  the  chancellor  — 
*  Louis  and  Edward  are  fuUy  accorded.' 

Both  the  Duke  and  the  English  earl  started. 


360  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

'I  expected  this,'  said  the  Duke,  'but  not  so  soon.' 
*  The  kings  have  met,'  answered  his  minister. 
*How  —  in  battle?'  said  Oxford,  forgetting  himself  in  his 
extreme  eagerness. 

The  chancellor  was  somewhat  surprised,  but,  as  the  Duke 
seemed  to  expect  him  to  give  an  answer,  he  replied,  '  No,  sir 
stranger,  not  in  battle,  but  upon  appointment,  and  in  peace 
and  amity.' 

*The  sight  must  have  been  worth  seeing,'  said  the  Duke, 
'when  the  old  fox  Louis  and  my  brother  Black  —  I  mean  my 
brother  Edward  —  met.     Where  held  they  their  rendezvous  1 ' 

'On  a  bridge  over  the  Seine,  at  Picquigny.' 

*I  would  thou  hadst  been  there,'  said  the  Duke,  looking  to 
Oxford,  '  with  a  good  axe  in  thy  hand,  to  strike  one  fair  blow 
for  England  and  another  for  Burgundy.  My  grandfather  was 
treacherously  slain  at  just  such  a  meeting,  at  the  bridge  of 
Montereau,  upon  the  Yonne.' 

'  To  prevent  a  similar  chance,'  said  the  chancellor,  *  a  strong 
barricade,  such  as  closes  the  cages  in  which  men  keep  wild 
beasts,  was  raised  in  the  midst  of  the  bridge,  and  prevented  the 
possibility  of  their  even  touching  each  other's  hands.' 

'Ha  —  ha !  By  St.  George,  that  smells  of  Louis's  craft  and 
caution ;  for  the  Englishman,  to  give  him  his  due,  is  as  little 
acquainted  with  fear  as  with  policy.  But  what  terms  have 
they  made  1  Where  do  the  English  army  winter  'i  What 
towns,  fortresses,  and  castles  are  surrendered  to  them,  in  pledge 
or  in  perpetuity  ? ' 

'None,  my  Hege,'  said  the  chancellor.  'The  English  army 
returns  into  England  as  fast  as  shipping  can  be  procured  to 
transport  them ;  and  Louis  will  accommodate  them  with  every 
sail  and  oar  in  his  dominions,  rather  than  they  should  not 
instantly  evacuate  France.' 

'And  by  what  concessions  has  Louis  bought  a  peace  so 
necessary  to  his  affairs?' 

'By  fair  words,'  said  the  chancellor,  'by  liberal  presents, 
and  by  some  five  hundred  tuns  of  wine.' 

'  Wine  ! '  exclaimed  the  Duke.  '  Heardst  thou  ever  the  like, 
Signior  Philipson?  Why,  your  countr)maen  are  little  better 
than  Esau,  who  sold  his  birthright  for  a  mess  of  pottage. 
Marry,  I  must  confess  I  never  saw  an  Englishman  who  loved 
a  dry-lipped  bargain.' 

'I  can  scarce  believe  this  news,'  said  the  Earl  of  Oxford. 
'If  this  Edward  were  content  to   cross  the   sea  with   fifty 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  361 

thousand  Englishmen  merely  to  return  again,  there  are  in 
his  camp  both  proud  nobles  and  haughty  commons  enough 
to  resist  his  disgraceful  purpose.' 

'  The  money  of  Louis,'  said  the  statesman,  *  has  found  noble 
hands  willing  to  clutch  it.  The  wine  of  France  has  flooded 
every  throat  in  the  English  army;  the  riot  and  uproar  was 
unbounded ;  and  at  one  time  the  town  of  Amiens,  where  Louis 
himself  resided,  was  full  of  so  many  English  archers,  all  of 
them  intoxicated,  that  the  person  of  the  King  of  France  was 
almost  in  their  hands.  Their  sense  of  national  honour  has 
been  lost  in  the  universal  revel,  and  those  amongst  them  who 
would  be  more  dignified,  and  play  the  wise  politicians,  say  that, 
having  come  to  France  by  connivance  of  the  Duke  of  Bur- 
gundy, and  that  prince  having  failed  to  join  them  with  his 
forces,  they  have  done  well,  wisely,  and  gallantly,  considering 
the  season  of  the  year,  and  the  impossibiUty  of  obtaining 
quarters,  to  take  tribute  of  France,  and  return  home  in 
triumph.' 

'And  leave  Louis,'  said  Oxford,  'at  undisturbed  freedom  to 
attack  Burgundy  with  all  his  forces  1 ' 

'  Not  so,  friend  Philipson,'  said  Duke  Charles ;  '  know,  that 
there  is  a  truce  betwixt  Burgundy  and  France  for  the  space  of 
seven  years,  and  had  not  this  been  granted  and  signed,  it  is 
probable  that  we  might  have  found  some  means  of  marring  the 
treaty  betwixt  Edward  and  Louis,  even  at  the  expense  of 
affording  those  voracious  islanders  beef  and  beer  during  the 
winter  months.  Sir  chancellor,  you  may  leave  us,  but  be 
within  reach  of  a  hasty  summons.' 

When  his  minister  left  the  pavilion,  the  Duke,  who  with  his 
rude  and  imperious  character  united  much  kindness,  if  it  could 
not  be  termed  generosity,  of  disposition,  came  up  to  the  Lan- 
castrian lord,  who  stood  like  one  at  whose  feet  a  thunderbolt 
has  just  broken,  and  who  is  still  appalled  by  the  terrors  of  the 
shock 

*  My  poor  Oxford,'  he  said,  '  thou  art  stupified  by  this  news, 
which  thou  canst  not  doubt  must  have  a  fatal  effect  on  the 
plan  which  thy  brave  bosom  cherishes  with  such  devoted 
fidelity.  I  would  for  thy  sake  I  could  have  detained  the 
English  a  little  longer  in  France ;  but  had  I  attempted  to  do 
so,  there  were  an  end  of  my  truce  with  Louis,  and  of  course  to 
my  power  to  chastise  these  paltry  cantons,  or  send  forth  an 
expedition  to  England.  As  matters  stand,  give  me  but  a  week 
to  punish  these  mountaineers,  and  you  shall  have  a  larger  force 


362  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

than  your  modesty  has  requested  of  me  for  your  enterprise; 
and,  in  the  meanwhile,  I  will  take  care  that  Blackburn  and 
his  cousin-archers  have  no  assistance  of  shipping  from  Flanders. 
Tush,  man,  never  fear  it  —  thou  wilt  be  in  England  long  ere 
they;  and,  once  more,  rely  on  my  assistance  —  always,  thou 
knowest,  the  cession  of  Provence  being  executed,  as  in  reason. 
Our  cousin  Margaret's  diamonds  we  must  keep  for  a  time; 
and  perhaps  they  may  pass  as  a  pledge,  with  some  of  our  own, 
for  the  godly  purpose  of  setting  at  freedom  the  imprisoned 
angels  of  our  Flemish  usurers,  who  will  not  lend  even  to  their 
sovereign,  unless  on  good  current  security.  To  such  straits 
has  the  disobedient  avarice  of  our  Estates  for  the  moment 
reduced  us.' 

'Alas!  my  lord,'  said  the  dejected  nobleman,  'I  were 
ungrateful  to  doubt  the  sincerity  of  your  good  intentions. 
But  who  can  presume  on  the  events  of  war,  especially  when 
time  presses  for  instant  decision?  You  are  pleased  to  trust 
me.  Let  your  Highness  extend  your  confidence  thus  far  :  I 
will  take  my  horse,  and  ride  after  the  Landamman,  if  he  hath 
already  set  forth.  I  have  little  doubt  to  make  such  an  ac- 
commodation with  him  that  you  may  be  secure  on  all  your 
south-eastern  frontiers.  You  may  then  with  security  work 
your  will  in  Lorraine  and  Provence.' 

'Do  not  speak  of  it,'  said  the  Duke,  sharply;  'thou  forget'st 
thyself  and  me,  when  thou  supposest  that  a  prince  who  has 
pledged  his  word  to  his  people  can  recall  it  like  a  merchant 
chaffering  for  his  paltry  wares.  Go  to  —  we  will  assist  you, 
but  we  will  be  ourselves  judge  of  the  time  and  manner.  Yet, 
having  both  kind  will  to  our  distressed  cousin  of  Anjou  and 
being  your  good  friend,  we  will  not  linger  in  the  matter. 
Our  host  have  orders  to  break  up  this  evening  and  direct  their 
march  against  Neufchatel,  where  these  proud  Swiss  shall  have 
a  taste  of  the  fire  and  sword  which  they  have  provoked.' 

Oxford  sighed  deeply,  but  made  no  farther  remonstrance, 
in  which  he  acted  wisely,  since  it  was  likely  to  have  exasperated 
the  fiery  temper  of  the  sovereign  to  whom  it  was  addressed, 
while  it  was  certain  that  it  would  not  in  the  slightest  degree 
alter  his  resolution. 

He  took  farewell  of  the  Duke,  and  returned  to  Colvin, 
whom  he  found  immersed  in  the  business  of  his  department, 
and  preparing  for  the  removal  of  the  artillery  —  an  operation 
which  the  clumsiness  of  the  ordnance  and  the  execrable  state 
of  the  roads  rendered  at  that  time  a  much  more  troublesome 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  363 

operation  than  at  present,  though  it  is  even  still  one  of  the 
most  laborious  movements  attending  the  march  of  an  army. 
The  master  of  the  ordnance  welcomed  Oxford  with  much  glee, 
and  congratulated  himself  on  the  distinguished  honour  of 
enjoying  his  company  during  the  campaign,  and  acquainted  him 
that,  by  the  especial  command  of  the  Duke,  he  had  made  fitting 
preparations  for  his  accommodation,  suitable  to  the  disguised 
character  which  he  meant  to  maintain,  but  in  every  other 
respect  as  convenient  as  a  camp  could  admit  of. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

A  mirthful  man  lie  was  —  the  snows  of  age 
Fell,  but  they  did  not  chill  him.     Gaiety, 
Even  in  life's  closing,  touch'd  his  teeming  brain 
With  such  wild  visions  as  the  setting  sun 
Raises  in  front  of  some  hoar  glacier, 
Painting  the  bleak  ice  with  a  thousand  hues. 

Old  Flay. 

LEAVING  the  Earl  of  Oxford  in  attendance  on  the  stubborn 
Duke  of  Burgundy  during  an  expedition  which  the  one 
-^  represented  as  a  brief  excursion,  more  resembling  a 
hunting-party  than  a  campaign,  and  which  the  other  considered 
in  a  much  graver  and  more  perilous  light,  we  return  to  Arthur 
de  Vere,  or  the  younger  Philipson,  as  he  continued  to  be  called, 
who  was  conducted  by  his  guide  with  fidelity  and  success,  but 
certainly  very  slowly,  upon  his  journey  into  Provence. 

The  state  of  Lorraine,  overrun  by  the  Duke  of  Burgundy's 
army,  and  infested  at  the  same  time  by  difierent  scattered 
bands,  who  took  the  field  or  held  out  the  castles,  as  they 
alleged,  for  the  interest  of  Count  Ferrand  de  Vaudemont, 
rendered  journeying  so  dangerous,  that  it  was  often  necessary 
to  leave  the  main  road  and  to  take  circuitous  tracks,  in  order 
to  avoid  such  unfriendly  encounters  as  travellers  might  other- 
wise have  met  with. 

Arthur,  taught  by  sad  experience  to  distrust  strange  guides, 
found  himself,  nevertheless,  in  this  eventful  and  perilous  jour- 
ney, disposed  to  rest  considerable  confidence  in  his  present 
conductor,  Thiebault,  a  Proven9al  by  birth,  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  the  roads  which  they  took,  and,  as  far  as  he 
could  judge,  disposed  to  discharge  his  office  with  fideKty. 
Prudence  alike,  and  the  habits  which  he  had  acquired  in 
travelling,  as  well  as  the  character  of  a  merchant  which  he  still 
sustained,  induced  him  to  wave  the  morgue^  or  haughty  superi- 
ority of  a  knight  and  noble  towards  an  inferior  personage, 
especially  as  he  rightly  conjectured  that  free  intercourse  with 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  365 

this  man,  whose  acquirements  seemed  of  a  superior  cast,  was 
likely  to  render  him  a  judge  of  his  opinions  and  disposition 
towards  him.  In  return  for  his  condescension,  he  obtained  a 
good  deal  of  information  concerning  the  province  which  he  was 
approaching. 

As  they  drew  near  the  boundaries  of  Provence,  the  com- 
munications of  Thiebault  became  more  fluent  and  interesting. 
He  could  not  only  tell  the  name  and  history  of  each  romantic 
oastle  which  they  passed  in  their  devious  and  doubtful  route, 
but  had  at  his  command  the  chivalrous  history  of  the  noble 
knights  and  barons  to  whom  they  now  pertained,  or  had 
belonged  in  earlier  days,  and  could  recount  their  exploits 
against  the  Saracens  by  repelling  their  attacks  upon  Christen- 
dom, or  their  efi'orts  to  recover  the  Holy  Sepulchre  from  pagan 
hands.  In  the  course  of  such  narrations,  Thiebault  was  led  to 
speak  of  the  troubadours,  a  race  of  native  poets  of  Proven9al 
origin,  differing  widely  from  the  minstrels  of  Normandy  and 
the  adjacent  provinces  of  France,  with  whose  tales  of  chiv- 
alry, as  weU  as  the  numerous  translations  of  their  works  into 
Norman-French  and  English,  Arthur,  like  most  of  the  noble 
youth  of  his  country,  was  intimately  acquainted  and  deeply 
embued.  Thiebault  boasted  that  his  grandsire,  of  humble 
birth  indeed,  but  of  distinguished  talent,  was  one  of  this  gifted 
race,  whose  compositions  produced  so  great  an  effect  on  the 
temper  and  manners  of  their  age  and  country.  It  was,  how- 
ever, to  be  regretted  that,  inculcating  as  the  prime  duty  of  life 
a  fantastic  spirit  of  gallantry,  which  sometimes  crossed  the 
Platonic  bound  prescribed  to  it,  the  poetry  of  the  troubadours  ^ 
was  too  frequently  used  to  soften  and  seduce  the  heart  and 
corrupt  the  principles. 

Arthur's  attention  was  called  to  this  peculiarity  by  Thie- 
bault singing,  which  he  could  do  with  good  skiU,  the  history  of 
a  troubadour  named  William  Cabestaing,  who  loved,  par  amours^ 
a  noble  and  beautiful  lady,  Margaret,  the  wife  of  a  baron  called 
Ra3rmond  de  Roussillon.  The  jealous  husband  obtained  proof 
of  his  dishonour,  and  having  put  Cabestaing  to  death  by  assas- 
sination, he  took  his  heart  from  his  bosom,  and,  causing  it  to 
be  dressed  like  that  of  an  animal,  ordered  it  to  be  served  up  to 
his  lady ;  and  when  she  had  eaten  of  the  horrible  mess,  told  her 
of  what  her  banquet  was  composed.  The  lady  replied  that, 
since  she  had  been  made  to  partake  of  food  so  precious,  no 
coarser  morsel  should  ever  after  cross  her  lips.     She  persisted 

1  See  Note  7 


em  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

in  her  resolution,  and  thus  starved  herself  to  death.  The 
troubadour  who  celebrated  this  tragic  history  had  displayed  in 
his  composition  a  good  deal  of  poetic  art.  Glossing  over  the 
error  of  the  lovers  as  the  fault  of  their  destiny,  dwelling  on 
their  tragical  fate  with  considerable  pathos,  and  finally  execrat- 
ing the  blind  fury  of  the  husband  with  the  full  fervour  of 
poetical  indignation,  he  recorded,  with  vindictive  pleasure,  how 
every  bold  knight  and  true  lover  in  the  south  of  France 
assembled  to  besiege  the  baron's  castle,  stormed  it  by  main 
force,  left  not  one  stone  upon  another,  and  put  the  tyrant  him- 
self to  an  ignominious  death.  Arthur  was  interested  in  the 
melancholy  tale,  which  even  beguiled  him  of  a  few  tears ;  but 
as  he  thought  farther  on  its  purport,  he  dried  his  eyes,  and 
said,  with  some  sternness  —  '  Thiebault,  sing  me  no  more  such 
lays.  I  have  heard  my  father  say  that  the  readiest  mode  to 
corrupt  a  Christian  man  is  to  bestow  upon  vice  the  pity  and 
the  praise  which  are  due  only  to  virtue.  Your  Baron  of  Rous- 
sillon  is  a  monster  of  cruelty;  but  your  unfortunate  lovers 
were  not  the  less  guilty.  It  is  by  giving  fair  names  to  foul 
actions  that  those  who  would  start  at  real  vice  are  led  to 
practise  its  lessons,  under  the  disguise  of  virtue.' 

'  I  would  you  knew,  signior,'  answered  Thiebault,  '  that  this 
Lay  of  Cabestaing  and  the  Lady  Margaret  of  Boussillon  is 
reckoned  a  masterpiece  of  the  joyous  science.  Fie,  sir,  you 
are  too  young  to  be  so  strict  a  censor  of  morals.  What, will 
you  do  when  your  head  is  grey,  if  you  are  thus  severe  when  it 
is  scarcely  brown  ? ' 

*A  head  which  listens  to  folly  in  youth  will  hardly  be 
honourable  in  old  age,'  answered  Arthur. 

Thiebault  had  no  mind  to  carry  the  dispute  farther. 

*  It  is  not  for  me  to  contend  with  your  worship.  I  only 
think,  with  every  true  son  of  chivalry  and  song,  that  a  knight 
without  a  mistress  is  like  a  sky  without  a  star.' 

'  Do  I  not  know  that  ? '  answered  Arthur ;  *  but  yet  better 
remain  in  darkness  than  be  guided  by  such  false  lights  as 
shower  down  vice  and  pestilence.' 

*  Nay,  it  may  be  your  seignorie  is  right,'  answered  the  guide. 
*  It  is  certain,  that  even  in  Provence  here  we  have  lost  much 
of  our  keen  j  udgment  on  matters  of  love  —  its  difficulties,  its 
intricacies,  and  its  errors,  since  the  troubadours  are  no  longer 
regarded  as  usual,  and  since  the  High  and  Noble  Parliament  of 
Love  ^  has  ceased  to  hold  its  sittings. 

»  See  Note  8. 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  367 

*  But  in  these  latter  days,'  continued  the  Provengal,  'kings, 
dukes,  and  sovereigns,  instead  of  being  the  foremost  and  most 
faithful  vassals  of  the  court  of  Cupid,  are  themselves  the  slaves 
of  selfishness  and  love  of  gain.  Instead  of  winning  hearts  by- 
breaking  lances  in  the  lists,  they  are  breaking  the  hearts  of 
their  impoverished  vassals  by  the  most  cruel  exactions ;  instead 
of  attempting  to  deserve  the  smile  and  favours  of  their  lady- 
loves, they  are  meditating  how  to  steal  castles,  towns,  and  prov- 
inces from  their  neighbours.  But  long  life  to  the  good  and 
venerable  King  Ren6  !  While  he  has  an  acre  of  land  left,  his 
residence  will  be  the  resort  of  valiant  knights,  whose  only  aim 
is  praise  in  arms,  of  true  lovers  who  are  persecuted  by  fortune, 
and  of  high-toned  harpers,  who  know  how  to  celebrate  faith  and 
valour.' 

Arthur,  interested  in  learning  something  more  precise  than 
common  fame  had  taught  him  on  the  subject  of  this  prince, 
easily  induced  the  talkative  Provencal  to  enlarge  upon  the 
virtues  of  his  old  sovereign's  character,  as  just,  joyous,  and 
debonair,  a  friend  to  the  most  noble  exercises  of  the  chase  and 
the  tilt-yard,  and  still  more  so  to  the  joyous  science  of  poetry 
and  music ;  who  gave  away  more  revenue  than  he  received,  in 
largesses  to  knights-errant  and  itinerant  musicians,  with  whom 
his  petty  court  was  crowded,  as  one  of  the  very  few  in  which 
the  ancient  hospitality  was  still  maintained. 

Such  was  the  picture  which  Thiebault  drew  of  the  last 
minstrel  monarch ;  and  though  the  eulogium  was  exaggerated, 
perhaps  the  facts  were  not  overcharged. 

Bom  of  royal  parentage, .  and  with  high  pretensions,  Ren^ 
had  at  no  period  of  his  life  been  able  to  match  his  fortunes  to 
his  claims.  Of  the  kingdoms  to  which  he  asserted  right,  nothing 
remained  in  his  possession  but  the  county  of  Provence  itself^ 
a  fair  and  fertile  principality,  but  diminished  by  the  many 
claims  which  France  had  acquired  upon  portions  of  it  by  ad- 
vances of  money  to  supply  the  personal  expenses  of  its  master, 
and  by  other  portions  which  Burgundy,  to  whom  Ren^  had 
been  a  prisoner,  held  in  pledge  for  his  ransom.  In  his  youth 
he  engaged  in  more  than  one  military  enterprise,  in  the  hope 
of  attaining  some  part  of  the  territory  of  which  he  was  styled 
sovereign.  His  courage  is  not  impeached,  but  fortune  did  not 
smile  on  his  military  adventures ;  and  he  seems  at  last  to  have 
become  sensible  that  the  power  of  admiring  and  celebrating 
warlike  merit  is  very  different  from  possessing  that  quality. 
In  fact,  Ren^  was  a  prince  of  very  moderate  parts,  endowed 


368  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

with  a  love  of  the  fine  arts,  which  he  carried  to  extremity,  and 
a  degree  of  good-humour  which  never  permitted  him  to  repine 
at  fortune,  but  rendered  its  possessor  happy,  when  a  prince 
of  keener  feelings  would  have  died  of  despair.  This  insouci- 
ant, light-tempered,  gay,  and  thoughtless  disposition  conducted 
Ken^,  free  from  all  the  passions  which  embitter  life,  and  often 
shorten  it,  to  a  hale  and  mirthful  old  age.  Even  domestic 
losses,  which  often  affect  those  who  are  proof  against  mere 
reverses  of  fortune,  made  no  deep  impression  on  the  feelings 
of  this  cheerful  old  monarch.  Most  of  his  children  had  died 
young ;  Ren^  took  it  not  to  heart.  His  daughter  Margaret's 
marriage  with  the  powerful  Henry  of  England  was  considered 
a  connexion  much  above  the  fortunes  of  the  King  of  the  Trou- 
badours. But  in  the  issue,  instead  of  Ren^  deriving  any 
splendour  from  the  match,  he  was  involved  in  the  misfortunes 
of  his  daughter,  and  repeatedly  obliged  to  impoverish  himself 
to  supply  her  ransom.  Perhaps  in  his  private  soul  the  old 
king  did  not  think  these  losses  so  mortifying  as  the  necessity 
of  receiving  Margaret  into  his  court  and  family.  On  fire  when 
reflecting  on  the  losses  she  had  sustained,  mourning  over  friends 
slain  and  kingdoms  lost,  the  proudest  and  most  passionate  of 
princesses  was  ill  suited  to  dwell  with  the  gayest  and  best- 
humoured  of  sovereigns,  whose  pursuits  she  contemned,  and 
whose  lightness  of  temper,  for  finding  comfort  in  such  trifles, 
she  could  not  forgive.  The  discomfort  attached  to  her  presence 
and  vindictive  recollections  embarrassed  the  good-humoured 
old  monarch,  though  it  was  unable  to  drive  him  beyond  his 
equanimity. 

Another  distress  pressed  him  more  sorely.  Yolande,  a 
daughter  of  his  first  wife,  Isabella,  had  succeeded  to  his  claims 
upon  the  duchy  of  Lorraine,  and  transmitted  them  to  her  son, 
Ferrand  Count  of  Vaudemont,  a  young  man  of  courage  and 
spirit,  engaged  at  this  time  in  the  apparently  desperate  under- 
taking of  making  his  title  good  against  the  Duke  of  Burgundy, 
who,  with  little  right  but  great  power,  was  seizing  upon  and 
overrunning  this  rich  duchy,  which  he  laid  claim  to  as  a  male 
fief  And  to  conclude,  while  the  aged  king  on  one  side  beheld 
his  dethroned  daughter  in  hopeless  despair,  and  on  the  other 
his  disinherited  grandson  in  vain  attempting  to  recover  part 
of  their  rights,  he  had  the  additional  misfortune  to  know  that 
his  nephew,  Louis  of  France,  and  his  cousin,  the  Duke  of  Bur- 
gundy, were  secretly  contending  which  should  succeed  him  in 
that  portion  of  Provence  which  he  still  continued  to  possess, 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

and  that  it  was  only  jealousy  of  each  other  which  prevented 
his  heing  despoiled  of  this  last  remnant  of  his  territory.  Yet, 
amid  all  this  distress,  Ren^  feasted  and  received  guests,  danced, 
sung,  composed  poetry,  used  the  pencil  or  brush  with  no  small 
skill,  devised  and  conducted  festivals  and  processions,  and  study- 
ing to  promote,  as  far  as  possible,  the  immediate  mirth  and 
good-humour  of  his  subjects,  if  he  could  not  materially  enlarge 
their  more  permanent  prosperity,  was  never  mentioned  by  them 
excepting  as  Le  hon  Roi  Rene^  a  distinction  conferred  on  him 
down  to  the  present  day,  and  due  to  him  certainly  by  the 
qualities  of  his  heart,  if  not  by  those  of  his  head. 

Whilst  Arthur  was  receiving  from  his  guide  a  full  account 
of  the  peculiarities  of  King  Ren^,  they  entered  the  territories 
of  that  merry  monarch.  It  was  late  in  the  autumn,  and  about 
the  period  when  the  south-eastern  counties  of  France  rather 
show  to  least  advantage.  The  foliage  of  the  olive-tree  is  then 
decayed  and  withered,  and  as  it  predominates  in  the  landscape, 
and  resembles  the  scorched  complexion  of  the  soil  itself,  an 
ashen  and  arid  hue  is  given  to  the  whole.  Still,  however,  there 
were  scenes  in  the  hilly  and  pastoral  parts  of  the  country  where 
the  quantity  of  evergreens  relieved  the  eye  even  in  this  dead 
season. 

The  appearance  of  the  country,  in  general,  had  much  in  it 
that  was  peculiar. 

The  travellers  perceived  at  every  turn  some  marks  of  the 
King's  singular  character.  Provence,  as  the  part  of  Gaul  which 
first  received  Roman  civilisation,  and  as  having  been  still  longer 
the  residence  of  the  Grecian  colony  who  founded  Marseilles,  is 
more  full  of  the  splendid  relics  of  ancient  architecture  than 
any  other  country  in  Europe,  Italy  and  Greece  excepted.  The 
good  taste  of  the  King  Ren^  had  dictated  some  attempts  to 
clear  out  and  restore  these  memorials  of  antiquity.  Was  there 
a  triumphal  arch  or  an  ancient  temple  —  huts  and  hovels 
were  cleared  away  from  its  vicinity,  and  means  were  used  at 
least  to  retard  the  approach  of  ruin.  Was  there  a  marble 
fountain,  which  superstition  had  dedicated  to  some  sequestered 
naiad  —  it  was  surrounded  by  olives,  almond,  and  orange  trees ; 
its  cistern  was  repaired,  and  taught  once  more  to  retain  its 
crystal  treasures.  The  huge  amphitheatres  and  gigantic  colon- 
nades experienced  the  same  anxious  care,  attesting  that  the 
noblest  specimens  of  the  fine  arts  found  one  admirer  and  pre- 
server in  King  Ren^,  even  during  the  course  of  those  which 
are  termed  the  dark  and  barbarous  ages. 

VOL.  XXIII — 24 


S70  ANNE  OP  GEIERSTEIN 

A  change  of  maimers  could  also  be  observed  in  passing 
from  Burgundy  and  Lorraine,  where  society  relished  of  German 
bluntness,  into  the  pastoral  country  of  Provence,  where  the 
influence  of  a  fine  climate  and  melodious  language,  joined  to  the 
pursuits  of  the  romantic  old  monarch,  with  the  universal  taste 
for  music  and  poetry,  had  introduced  a  civilisation  of  manners 
which  approached  to  affectation.  The  shepherd  literally  marched 
abroad  in  the  morning,  piping  his  flocks  forth  to  the  pasture 
with  some  love  sonnet,  the  composition  of  an  amorous  trouba- 
dour; and  his  'fleecy  care'  seemed  actually  to  be  under  the 
influence  of  his  music,  instead  of  being  ungraciously  insensible 
to  its  melody,  as  is  the  case  in  colder  climates.  Arthur  observed, 
too,  that  the  Provengal  sheep,  instead  of  being  driven  before  the 
shepherd,  regularly  followed  him,  and  did  not  disperse  to  feed 
until  the  swain,  by  turning  his  face  round  to  them,  remaining 
stationary,  and  executing  variations  on  the  air  which  he  was 
playing,  seemed  to  remind  them  that  it  was  proper  to  do  so. 
While  in  motion,  his  huge  dog,  of  a  species  which  is  trained  to 
face  the  wolf,  and  who  is  respected  by  the  sheep  as  their 
guardian,  and  not  feared  as  their  tyrant,  followed  his  master 
with  his  ears  pricked,  like  the  chief  critic  and  prime  judge  of 
the  performance,  at  some  tones  of  which  he  seldom  failed  to 
intimate  disapprobation ;  while  the  flock,  like  the  generality  of 
an  audience,  followed  in  unanimous  though  silent  applause.  At 
the  hour  of  noon,  the  shepherd  had  sometimes  acquired  an 
augmentation  to  his  audience,  as  some  comely  matron  or  bloom- 
ing maiden,  with  whom  he  had  rendezvoused  by  such  a  fountain 
as  we  have  described,  and  who  listened  to  the  husband's  or 
lover's  cimlumeau,  or  mingled  her  voice  with  his  in  the  duets  of 
which  the  songs  of  the  troubadours  have  left  so  many  examples. 
In  the  cool  of  the  evening,  the  dance  on  the  village  green,  or  the 
concert  before  the  hamlet  door,  the  little  repast  of  fruits,  cheese, 
and  bread,  which  the  traveller  was  readily  invited  to  share,  gave 
new  charms  to  the  illusion,  and  seemed  in  earnest  to  point  out 
Provence  as  the  Arcadia  of  France. 

But  the  greatest  singularity  was,  in  the  eyes  of  Arthur,  the 
total  absence  of  armed  men  and  soldiers  in  this  peaceful  country. 
In  England,  no  man  stirred  without  his  long-bow,  sword,  and 
buckler.  In  France,  the  hind  wore  armour  even  when  he  was 
betwixt  the  stilts  of  his  plough.  In  Germany,  you  could  not 
look  along  a  mile  of  highway,  but  the  eye  was  encountered  by 
clouds  of  dust,  out  of  which  were  seen,  by  fits,  waving  feathers 
and  flashing  armour.     Even  in  Switzerland,  the  peasant,  if  he 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  371 

had  a  journey  to  make,  though  but  of  a  mile  or  two,  cared  not 
to  travel  without  his  halberd  and  two-handed  sword.  But  in 
Provence  all  seemed  quiet  and  peaceful,  as  if  the  music  of  the 
land  had  lulled  to  sleep  all  its  wrathful  passions.  Now  and 
then  a  mounted  cavalier  might  pass  them,  the  harp  at  whose 
saddle-bow,  or  carried  by  one  of  his  attendants,  attested  the 
character  of  a  troubadour,  which  was  affected  by  men  of  all 
ranks ;  and  then  only  a  short  sword  on  his  left  thigh,  borne  for 
show  rather  than  use,  was  a  necessary  and  appropriate  part  of 
his  equipment. 

'Peace,'  said  Arthur,  as  he  looked  around  him,  'is  an  in- 
estimable jewel ;  but  it  will  be  soon  snatched  from  those  who 
are  not  prepared  with  heart  and  hand  to  defend  it.' 

The  sight  of  the  ancient  and  interesting  town  of  Aix,  where 
King  E,en6  held  his  court,  dispelled  reflections  of  a  general 
character,  and  recalled  to  the  young  Englishman  the  peculiar 
mission  on  which  he  was  engaged. 

He  then  required  to  know  from  the  Provencal  Thiebault, 
whether  his  instructions  were  to  leave  him,  now  that  he  had 
successfully  attained  the  end  of  his  journey. 

'My  instructions,'  answered  Thiebault,  'are  to  remain  in 
Aix  while  there  is  any  chance  of  your  seignorie's  continuing 
there,  to  be  of  such  use  to  you  as  you  may  require,  either  as  a 
guide  or  an  attendant,  and  to  keep  these  men  in  readiness  to 
wait  upon  you  when  you  have  occasion  for  messengers  or 
guards.  With  your  approbation,  I  will  see  them  disposed  of 
in  fitting  quarters,  and  receive  my  farther  instructions  from 
your  seignorie  wherever  you  please  to  appoint  me.  I  propose 
this  separation,  because  I  understand  it  is  your  present  pleasure 
to  be  private.' 

'I  must  go  to  court,'  answered  Arthur,  'without  any  delay. 
Wait  for  me  in  half  an  hour  by  that  fountain  in  the  street, 
which  projects  into  the  air  such  a  magnificent  pillar  of  water, 
surrounded,  I  would  almost  swear,  by  a  vapour- like  steam,  serv- 
ing as  a  shroud  to  the  jet  which  it  envelopes.' 

'The  jet  is  so  surrounded,'  answered  the  Provencal,  'because 
it  is  supplied  by  a  hot  spring  rising  fi:om  the  bowels  of  the 
earth,  and  the  touch  of  fi:ost  on  this  autumn  morning  makes 
the  vapour  more  distinguishable  than  usual.  But  if  it  is  good 
King  Ren^  whom  you  seek,  you  will  find  him  at  this  time 
walking  in  his  chimney.  Do  not  be  afi-aid  of  approaching  him, 
for  there  never  was  a  monarch  so  easy  of  access,  especially  to 
good-looking  strangers  like  your  seignorie.' 


372  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  But  his  ushers,'  said  Arthur,  *  will  not  admit  me  into  his 
haU.' 

*  His  hall ! '  repeated  Thiebault.     '  Whose  hall  1 ' 

'Why,  King  Rent's,  I  apprehend.  If  he  is  walking  in  a 
chimney,  it  can  only  be  in  that  of  his  hall,  and  a  stately  one  it 
must  be  to  give  him  room  for  such  exercise.' 

'You  mistake  my  meaning,'  said  the  guide,  laughing. 
'  What  we  call  King  Kent's  chimney  is  the  narrow  parapet 
yonder ;  it  extends  between  these  two  towers,  has  an  exposure 
to  the  south,  and  is  sheltered  in  every  other  direction.  Yonder 
it  is  his  pleasure  to  walk  and  enjoy  the  beams  of  the  sun,  on 
such  cool  mornings  as  the  present.  It  nurses,  he  says,  his 
poetical  vein.  If  you  approach  his  promenade  he  will  readily 
speak  to  you,  unless,  indeed,  he  is  in  the  very  act  of  a  poetical 
composition.' 

Arthur  could  not  forbear  smiling  at  the  thoughts  of  a  king, 
eighty  years  of  age,  broken  down  with  misfortunes  and  beset 
with  dangers,  who  yet  amused  himself  with  walking  in  an  open 
parapet,  and  composing  poetry  in  presence  of  aU  such  of  his 
loving  subjects  as  chose  to  look  on. 

*If  you  will  walk  a  few  steps  this  way,'  said  Thiebault,  'you 
may  see  the  good  king,  and  judge  whether  or  not  you  will 
accost  him  at  present.  I  will  dispose  of  the  people,  and  await 
your  orders  at  the  fountain  in  the  corso.' 

Arthur  saw  no  objection  to  the  proposal  of  his  guide,  and 
was  not  unwilling  to  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing  something 
of  the  good  King  Rend  before  he  was  introduced  to  his 
presence. 


A 


CHAPTER  XXX 


Ay,  this  is  he  who  wears  the  wreath  of  bays 

Wove  by  Apollo  and  the  Sisters  Nine, 

Which  Jove's  dread  lightning  scathes  not.     He  hath  doft 

The  cumbrous  helm  of  steel,  and  flung  aside 

The  yet  more  galling  diadem  of  gold  ; 

While,  with  a  leafy  circlet  round  his  brows, 

He  reigns  the  king  of  lovers  and  of  poets. 

CAUTIOUS  approach  to  the  chimney,  that  is,  the 
favourite  walk  of  the  King,  who  is  described  by  Shak- 
speare  as  bearing 

The  style  of  King  of  Naples, 
Of  both  the  Sicilies,  and  Jerusalem, 
Yet  not  80  wealthy  as  an  English  yeoman. 


gave  Arthur  the  perfect  survey  of  his  Majesty  in  person.  He 
saw  an  old  man,  with  locks  and  beard  which,  in  amplitude  and 
whiteness,  nearly  rivalled  those  of  the  envoy  from  Schwytz,  but 
with  a  fresh  and  ruddy  colour  in  his  cheek,  and  an  eye  of  great 
vivacity.  His  dress  was  showy  to  a  degree  almost  inconsistent 
with  his  years ;  and  his  step,  not  only  firm  but  full  of  alert- 
ness and  vivacity,  while  occupied  in  traversing  the  short  and 
sheltered  walk,  which  he  had  chosen  rather  for  comfort  than 
for  privacy,  showed  juvenile  vigour  still  animating  an  aged 
frame.  The  old  king  carried  his  tablets  and  a  pencil  in  his 
hand,  seeming  totally  abstracted  in  his  own  thoughts,  and  in- 
different to  being  observed  by  several  persons  from  the  public 
street  beneath  his  elevated  promenade. 

Of  these,  some,  from  their  dress  and  manner,  seemed  them- 
selves troubadours ;  for  they  held  in  their  hands  rebecks, 
rotes,  small  portable  harps,  and  other  indications  of  their  pro- 
fession. Such  appeared  to  be  stationary,  as  if  engaged  in 
observing  and  recording  their  remarks  on  the  meditations  of 
their  prince.  Other  passengers,  bent  on  their  own  more 
serious  affairs,  looked  up  to  the  King  as  to  some  one  whom 
they  were  accustomed  to  see  daily,  but  never  passed  without 


374  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

doffing  their  bonnets,  and  expressing,  by  a  suitable  obeisance, 
a  respect  and  affection  towards  his  person  which  appeared  to 
make  up  in  cordiaUty  of  feeling  what  it  wanted  in  deep  and 
solemn  deference. 

Ren^,  in  the  meanwhile,  was  apparently  unconscious  both 
of  the  gaze  of  such  as  stood  still  or  the  greeting  of  those  who 
passed  on,  his  mind  seeming  altogether  engrossed  with  the 
apparent  labour  of  some  arduous  task  in  poetry  or  music. 
He  walked  fast  or  slow  as  best  suited  the  progress  of  composi- 
tion. At  times  he  stopped  to  mark  hastily  down  on  his  tablets 
something  which  seemed  to  occur  to  him  as  deserving  of  pres- 
ervation ;  at  other  times  he  dashed  out  what  he  had  written, 
and  flung  down  the  pencil  as  if  in  a  sort  of  despair.  On  these 
occasions,  the  Sibylline  leaf  was  carefully  picked  up  by  a  beauti- 
ful page,  his  only  attendant,  who  reverently  observed  the  first 
suitable  opportunity  of  restoring  it  again  to  his  royal  hand. 
The  same  youth  bore  a  viol,  on  which,  at  a  signal  from  his 
master,  he  occasionally  struck  a  few  musical  notes,  to  which  the 
old  king  listened,  now  with  a  soothed  and  satisfied  air,  now 
with  a  discontented  and  anxious  brow.  At  times  his  enthusi- 
asm rose  so  high  that  he  even  hopped  and  skipped,  with  an 
activity  which  his  years  did  not  promise ;  at  other  times  his 
motions  were  extremely  slow,  and  occasionally  he  stood  still, 
like  one  wrapped  in  the  deepest  and  most  anxious  meditation. 
When  he  chanced  to  look  on  the  group  which  seemed  to  watch 
his  motions,  and  who  ventured  even  to  salute  him  with  a  mur- 
mur of  applause,  it  was  only  to  distinguish  them  with  a  friendly 
and  good-humoured  nod  —  a  salutation  with  which,  likewise,  he 
failed  not  to  reply  to  the  greeting  of  the  occasional  passengers, 
when  his  earnest  attention  to  his  task,  whatever  it  might  be, 
permitted  him  to  observe  them. 

At  length  the  royal  eye  lighted  upon  Arthur,  whose  attitude 
of  silent  observation,  and  the  distinction  of  his  figure,  pointed 
him  out  as  a  stranger.  Ren^  beckoned  to  his  page,  who,  re- 
ceiving his  master's  commands  in  a  whisper,  descended  from 
the  royal  chimney  to  the  broader  platform  beneath,  which  was 
open  to  general ^  resort.  The  youth,  addressing  Arthur  with 
much  courtesy,  informed  him  the  King  desired  to  speak  with 
him.  The  young  Englishman  had  no  alternative  but  that  of 
approaching,  though  pondering  much  in  his  own  mind  how  he 
ought  to  comport  himself  towards  such  a  singular  specimen  of 
royalty. 

When  he  drew  near,  King  Ren^  addressed  him  in  a  tone  of 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  375 

courtesy  not  unmingled  with  dignity,  and  Arthur's  awe  in  his 
immediate  presence  was  greater  than  he  himself  could  have  an- 
ticipated from  his  previous  conception  of  the  royal  character. 

'You  are,  from  your  appearance,  fair  sir,'  said  King  Ren^, 
*  a  stranger  in  this  country.  By  what  name  must  we  call  you, 
and  to  what  business  are  we  to  ascribe  the  happiness  of  seeing 
you  at  our  court  ? ' 

Arthur  remained  a  moment  silent,  and  the  good  old  man, 
imputing  it  to  awe  and  timidity,  proceeded  in  an  encouraging 
tone. 

'  Modesty  in  youth  is  ever  commendable  :  you  are  doubtless 
an  acolyte  in  the  noble  and  joyous  science  of  minstrelsy  and 
music,  drawn  hither  by  the  willing  welcome  which  we  afford  to 
the  professors  of  those  arts,  in  which  —  praise  be  to  Our  Lady  and 
the  saints  !  —  we  have  ourself  been  deemed  a  proficient.' 

'  I  do  not  aspire  to  the  honours  of  a  troubadour,'  answered 
Arthur. 

'  I  believe  you,'  answered  the  King,  *  for  your  speech  smacks 
of  the  northern,  or  Norman,  French,  such  as  is  spoken  in  Eng- 
land and  other  unrefined  nations.  But  you  are  a  minstrel, 
perhaps,  from  these  ultramontane  parts.  Be  assured  we  despise 
not  their  efforts ;  for  we  have  listened,  not  without  pleasure  and 
instruction,  to  many  of  their  bold  and  wild  romaunts,  which, 
though  rude  in  device  and  language,  and,  therefore,  far  inferior 
to  the  regulated  poetry  of  our  troubadours,  have  yet  something 
in  their  powerful  and  rough  measure  which  occasionally  rouses 
the  heart  like  the  sound  of  a  trumpet.' 

'  I  have  felt  the  truth  of  your  Grace's  observation,  when  I 
have  heard  the  songs  of  my  country,'  said  Arthur ;  'but  I  have 
neither  skill  nor  audacity  to  imitate  what  I  admire.  My  latest 
residence  has  been  in  Italy.' 

'You  are  perhaps,  then,  a  proficient  in  painting,'  said  Ken^ 
— '  an  art  which  applies  itself  to  the  eye  as  poetry  and  music 
do  to  the  ear,  and  is  scarce  less  in  esteem  with  us.  If  you  are 
skilful  in  the  art,  you  have  come  to  a  monarch  who  loves  it, 
and  the  fair  country  in  which  it  is  practised.' 

'  In  simple  truth,  sire,  I  am  an  EngHshman,  and  my  hand 
has  been  too  much  welked  and  hardened  by  practice  of  the 
bow,  the  lance,  and  the  sword  to  touch  the  harp,  or  even  the 
pencil.' 

'  An  Englishman ! '  said  Ren^,  obviously  relaxing  in  the 
warmth  of  his  welcome ;  '  and  what  brings  you  here  ?  England 
and  I  have  long  had  little  friendship  together.' 


376  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*It  is  even  on  that  account  that  I  am  here,'  said  Arthur. 
*I  come  to  pay  my  homage  to  your  Grace's  daughter,  the 
Princess  Margaret  of  Anjou,  whom  I  and  many  true  English- 
men regard  still  as  our  queen,  though  traitors  have  usurped 
her  title.' 

'Alas,  good  youth,'  said  Ren^,  *I  must  grieve  for  you,  while 
I  respect  your  loyalty  and  faith.  Had  my  daughter  Margaret 
been  of  my  mind,  she  had  long  since  abandoned  pretensions 
which  have  drowned  in  seas  of  blood  the  noblest  and  bravest  of 
her  adherents.' 

The  King  seemed  about  to  say  more,  but  checked  himself. 

*  Go  to  my  palace,'  he  said ;  '  inquire  for  the  seneschal,  Hugh 
de  St.  Cyr,  he  will  give  thee  the  means  of  seeing  Margaret  — 
that  is,  if  it  be  her  will  to  see  thee.  If  not,  good  English 
youth,  return  to  my  palace,  and  thou  shalt  have  hospitable 
entertainment;  for  a  king  who  loves  minstrelsy,  music,  and 
painting  is  ever  most  sensible  to  the  claims  of  honour,  virtue, 
and  loyalty;  and  I  read  in  thy  looks  thou  art  possessed  of 
these  qualities,  and  willingly  believe  thou  mayst,  in  more 
quiet  times,  aspire  to  share  the  honours  of  the  joyous  science. 
But  if  thou  hast  a  heart  to  be  touched  by  the  sense  of  beauty 
and  fair  proportion,  it  will  leap  within  thee  at  the  first  sight  of 
my  palace,  the  stately  grace  of  which  may  be  compared  to  the 
faultless  form  of  some  high-bred  dame,  or  the  artful,  yet  seem- 
ingly simple,  modulations  of  such  a  tune  as  we  have  been  now 
composing.' 

The  King  seemed  disposed  to  take  his  instrument  and  in- 
dulge the  youth  with  a  rehearsal  of  the  strain  he  had  just 
arranged ;  but  Arthur  at  that  moment  experienced  the  painful 
internal  feeling  of  that^  peculiar  species  of  shame  which  well- 
constructed  minds  feel  when  they  see  others  express  a  great 
assumption  of  importance,  with  a  confidence  that  they  are 
exciting  admiration,  when  in  fact  they  are  only  exposing  them- 
selves to  ridicule.  Arthur,  in  short,  took  leave,  '  in  very  shame,' 
of  the  King  of  Naples,  both  the  Sicilies,  and  Jerusalem  in  a 
manner  somewhat  more  abrupt  than  ceremony  demanded.  The 
King  looked  after  him  with  some  wonder  at  this  want  of  breed- 
ing, which,  however,  he  imputed  to  his  visitor's  insular  education, 
and  then  again  began  to  twangle  his  viol. 

^  *  The  old  fool ! '  said  Arthur ;  '  his  daughter  is  dethroned, 
his  dominions  crumbling  to  pieces,  his  family  on  the  eve  of 
becoming  extinct,  his  grandson  driven  from  one  lurking-place 
to  another,  and  expelled  from  his  mother's  inheritance,  and  he 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  377 

can  find  amusement  in  these  fopperies  !  I  thought  him,  with 
his  long  white  beard,  like  Nicholas  Bonstetten ;  but  the  old  Swiss 
is  a  Solomon  compared  with  him.' 

As  these  and  other  reflections,  highly  disparaging  to  King 
Ren^,  passed  through  Arthur's  mind,  he  reached  the  place  of 
rendezvous,  and  found  Thiebault  beneath  the  steaming  fountain, 
forced  from  one  of  those  hot  springs  which  had  been  the  delight 
of  the  Romans  from  an  early  period.  Thiebault,  having  assured 
his  master  that  his  retinue,  horse  and  man,  were  so  disposed  as 
to  be  ready  on  an  instant's  call,  readily  undertook  to  guide  him 
to  King  Rent's  palace,  which,  from  its  singularity,  and  indeed 
its  beauty  of  architecture,  deserved  the  eulogium  which  the 
old  monarch  had  bestowed  upon  it.  The  front  consisted  of 
three  towers  of  Roman  architecture,  two  of  them  being  placed 
on  the  angles  of  the  palace,  and  the  third,  which  served  the 
purpose  of  a  mausoleum,  forming  a  part  of  the  group,  though 
somewhat  detached  from  the  other  buildings.  This  last  was 
a  structure  of  beautiful  proportions.  The  lower  part  of  the 
edifice  was  square,  serving  as  a  sort  of  pedestal  to  the  upper 
part,  which  was  circular,  and  surrounded  by  columns  of  massive 
granite.  The  other  two  towers  at  the  angles  of  the  palace  were 
round,  and  also  ornamented  with  pillars,  and  with  a  double  row 
of  windows.  In  front  of,  and  connected  with,  these  Roman 
remains,  to  which  a  date  has  been  assigned  as  early  as  the 
5th  or  6th  century,  arose  the  ancient  palace  of  the  Counts 
of  Provence,  built  a  century  or  two  later,  but  where  a  rich 
Gothic  or  Moorish  front  contrasted,  and  yet  harmonised,  with 
the  more  regular  and  massive  architecture  of  the  lords  of  the 
world.  It  is  not  more  than  thirty  or  forty  years  since  this 
very  curious  remnant  of  antique  art  was  destroyed,  to  make 
room  for  new  public  buildings,  which  have  never  yet  been 
erected. 

Arthur  really  experienced  some  sensation  of  the  kind  which 
the  old  king  had  prophesied,  and  stood  looking  with  wonder  at 
the  ever-open  gate  of  the  palace,  into  which  men  of  all  kinds 
seemed  to  enter  freely.  After  looking  around  for  a  few  minutes, 
the  young  Englishman  ascended  the  steps  of  a  noble  portico, 
and  asked  of  a  porter,  as  old  and  as  lazy  as  a  great  man's 
domestic  ought  to  be,  for  the  seneschal  named  to  him  by  the 
King.  The  corpulent  janitor,  with  great  politeness,  put  the 
stranger  under  the  charge  of  a  page,  who  ushered  him  to  a 
chamber,  in  which  he  found  another  aged  functionary  of  higher 
rank,  with  a  comely  face,  a  clear,  composed  eye,  and  a  brow 


378  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

which,  having  never  been  knit  into  gravity,  intimated  that 
the  seneschal  of  Aix  was  a  proficient  in  the  philosophy  of  his 
royal  master.  He  recognised  Arthur  the  moment  he  addressed 
him. 

*  You  speak  northern  French,  fair  sir ;  you  have  lighter  hair 
and  a  fairer  complexion  than  the  natives  of  this  country  ;  you 
ask  after  Queen  Margaret  —  by  all  these  marks  I  read  you 
English.  Her  Grace  of  England  is  at  this  moment  paying  a 
vow  at  the  monastery  of  Mont  St.  Victoire,  and  if  your  name 
be  Arthur  Philipson,  I  have  commission  to  forward  you  to  her 
presence  immediately  —  that  is,  as  soon  as  you  have  tasted  of 
the  royal  provision.' 

The  young  man  would  have  remonstrated,  but  the  seneschal 
left  him  no  leisure. 

'  Meat  and  mass,'   he  said,   *  never  hindered  work :    it  is 

Eerilous  to  youth  to  journey  too  far  on  an  empty  stomach ;  he 
imself  would  take  a  mouthful  with  the  Queen's  guest,  and 
pledge  him  to  boot  in  a  flask  of  old  Hermitage.' 

The  board  was  covered  with  an  alacrity  which  showed  that 
hospitality  was  familiarly  exercised  in  King  Rent's  dominions. 
Pasties,  dishes  of  game,  the  gallant  boar's  head,  and  other 
delicacies  were  placed  on  the  table,  and  the  seneschal  played 
the  merry  host,  frequently  apologising  (unnecessarily)  for  show- 
ing an  indifferent  example,  as  it  was  his  duty  to  carve  before 
King  Ren^,  and  the  good  king  was  never  pleased  unless  he 
saw  him  feed  lustily  as  well  as  carve  featly. 

*But  for  you,  sir  guest,  eat  freely,  since  you  may  not  see 
food  again  till  sunset ;  for  the  good  queen  takes  her  misfortunes 
so  to  heart  that  sighs  are  her  food,  and  her  tears  a  bottle  of 
drink,  as  the  Psalmist  hath  it.  But  I  bethink  me  you  will 
need  steeds  for  yourself  and  your  equipage  to  reach  Mont  St. 
Victoire,  which  is  seven  miles  from  Aix.' 

Arthur  intimated  that  he  had  a  guide  and  horses  in  attend- 
ance, and  begged  permission  to  take  his  adieu.  The  worthy 
seneschal,  his  fair  round  belly  graced  with  a  gold  chain,  accom- 
panied him  to  the  gate  with  a  step  which  a  gentle  fit  of  the 
gout  had  rendered  uncertain,  but  which,  he  assured  Arthur, 
would  vanish  before  three  days'  use  of  the  hot  springs.  Thie- 
bault  appeared  before  the  gate,  not  with  the  tired  steeds  fi:om 
which  they  had  dismounted  an  hour  since,  but  with  fresh 
palfreys  from  the  stable  of  the  King. 

'They  are  yours  from  the  moment  you  have  put  foot  in 
stirrup,'  said    the   seneschal:    'the  good  King  Ren^   never 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  379 

received  back  as  his  property  a  horse  which  he  had  lent  to  a 
guest ;  and  that  is  perhaps  one  reason  why  his  Highness  and 
we  of  his  household  must  walk  often  a-foot.' 

Here  the  seneschal  exchanged  greetings  with  his  young 
visitor,  who  rode  forth  to  seek  Queen  Margaret's  place  of  tem- 
porary retirement  at  the  celebrated  monastery  of  St.  Victoire. 
He  demanded  of  his  guide  in  which  direction  it  lay,  who 
pointed  with  an  air  of  triumph  to  a  mountain  three  thousand 
feet  and  upwards  in  height,  which  arose  at  five  or  six  miles' 
distance  from  the  town,  and  which  its  bold  and  rocky  summit 
rendered  the  most  distinguished  object  of  the  landscape.  Thie- 
bault  spoke  of  it  with  unusual  glee  and  energy,  so  much  so  as 
to  lead  Arthur  to  conceive  that  his  trusty  squire  had  not 
neglected  to  avail  himself  of  the  lavish  hospitality  of  Le  hon 
Roi  Rene.  Thiebault,  however,  continued  to  expatiate  on  the 
fame  of  the  mountain  and  monastery.  They  derived  their 
name,  he  said,  from  a  great  victory  which  was  gained  by  a 
Roman  general  named  Caio  Mario,  against  two  large  armies  of 
Saracens  with  ultramontane  names  (the  Teutones  probably 
and  Cimbri),  in  gratitude  to  Heaven  for  which  victory  Caio 
Mario  vowed  to  build  a  monastery  on  the  mountain  for  the 
service  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  in  honour  of  whom  he  had  been 
baptized.  With  all  the  importance  of  a  local  connoisseur, 
Thiebault  proceeded  to  prove  his  general  assertion  by  specific 
facts. 

'Yonder,'  he  said,  *was  the  camp  of  the  Saracens,  from 
which,  when  the  battle  was  apparently  decided,  their  wives  and 
women  rushed,  with  horrible  screams,  dishevelled  hair,  and  the 
gestures  of  furies,  and  for  a  time  prevailed  in  stopping  the 
flight  of  the  men.'  He  pointed  out,  too,  the  river  for  access 
to  which,  cut  off  by  the  superior  generalship  of  the  Romans, 
the  barbarians,  whom  he  called  Saracens,  hazarded  the  action, 
and  whose  streams  they  empurpled  with  their  blood.  In  short, 
he  mentioned  many  circumstances  which  showed  how  accu- 
rately tradition  will  preserve  the  particulars  of  ancient  events, 
even  whilst  forgetting,  misstating,  and  confounding  dates  and 
persons. 

Perceiving  that  Arthur  lent  him  a  not  unwilling  ear  —  for  it 
may  be  supposed  that  the  education  of  a  youth  bred  up  in  the 
heat  of  civil  wars  was  not  well  qualified  to  criticise  his  account 
of  the  wars  of  a  distant  period  —  the  Provencal,  when  he  had 
exhausted  this  topic,  drew  up  close  to  his  master's  side,  and 
asked,  in  a  suppressed  tone,  whether  he  knew,  or  was  desirous 


380  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

of  being  made  acquainted  with,  the  cause  of  Margaret's  having 
leffc  Aix,  to  establish  herself  in  the  monastery  of  St.  Victoire. 

*  For  the  accomplishment  of  a  vow,'  answered  Arthur ;  *  all 
the  world  knows  it.' 

'All  Aix  knows  the  contrary,'  said  Thiebault;  'and  I  can 
tell  you  the  truth,  so  I  were  sure  it  would  not  offend  your 
seignorie.' 

*  The  truth  can  offend  no  reasonable  man,  so  it  be  expressed 
in  the  terms  of  which  Queen  Margaret  must  be  spoken  in  the 
presence  of  an  Englishman.' 

Thus  replied  Arthur,  willing  to  receive  what  information  he 
could  gather,  and  desirous,  at  the  same  time,  to  check  the 
petulance  of  his  attendant. 

*  I  have  nothing,'  replied  his  follower,  '  to  state  in  disparage- 
ment of  the  gracious  queen,  whose  only  misfortune  is  that,  like 
her  royal  father,  she  has  more  titles  than  towns.  Besides,  I 
know  well  that  you  Englishmen,  though  you  speak  wildly  of 
your  sovereigns  yourselves,  will  not  permit  others  to  fail  in 
respect  to  them.' 

Say  on,  then,'  answered  Arthur. 

'Your  seignorie  must  know,  then,'  said  Thiebault,  'that  the 
good  King  Ren^  has  been  much  disturbed  by  the  deep  melan- 
choly which  afflicted  Queen  Margaret,  and  has  bent  himself 
with  all  his  power  to  change  it  into  a  gayer  humour.  He 
made  entertainments  in  public  and  in  private;  he  assembled 
minstrels  and  troubadours,  whose  music  and  poetry  might  have 
drawn  smiles  from  one  on  his  death-bed.  The  whole  country 
resounded  with  mirth  and  glee,  and  the  gracious  queen  could 
not  stir  abroad  in  the  most  private  manner,  but,  before  she  had 
gone  a  hundred  paces,  she  lighted  on  an  ambush,  consisting  of 
some  pretty  pageant,  or  festivous  mummery,  composed  often 
by  the  good  king  himself,  which  interrupted  her  solitude,  in 
purpose  of  relieving  her  heavy  thoughts  with  some  pleasant 
pastime.  But  the  Queen's  deep  melancholy  rejected  all  these 
modes  of  dispelling  it,  and  at  length  she  confined  herself  to  her 
own  apartments,  and  absolutely  refused  to  see  even  her  royal 
father,  because  he  generally  brought  into  her  presence  those 
whose  productions  he  thought  likely  to  soothe  her  sorrow. 
Indeed,  she  seemed  to  hear  the  harpers  with  loathing,  and,  ex- 
cepting one  wandering  Englishman,  who  sung  a  rude  and  mel- 
ancholy ballad,  which  threw  her  into  a  flood  of  tears,  and  to 
whom  she  gave  a  chain  of  price,  she  never  seemed  to  look  at 
or  be  conscious  of  the  presence  of  any  one.    And  at  length, 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  381 

as  I  have  had  the  honour  to  tell  your  seignorie,  she  refused  to 
see  even  her  royal  father  unless  he  came  alone ;  and  that  he 
found  no  heart  to  do.' 

'  I  wonder  not  at  it/  said  the  young  man ;  *  by  the  white  swan, 
I  am  rather  surprised  his  mummery  drove  her  not  to  frenzy.' 

*  Something  like  it  indeed  took  place,'  said  Thiebault;  'and 
I  will  tell  your  seignorie  how  it  chanced.  You  must  know  that 
good  King  Ren^,  unwilling  to  abandon  his  daughter  to  the  foul 
fiend  of  melancholy,  bethought  him  of  making  a  grand  effort. 
You  must  know  further,  that  the  King,  powerful  in  all  the  crafb 
of  troubadours  and  jongleurs,  is  held  in  peculiar  esteem  for 
conducting  mysteries,  and  other  of  those  gamesome  and  delight- 
ful sports  and  processions  with  which  our  Holy  Church  permits 
her  graver  ceremonies  to  be  relieved  and  diversified,  to  the 
cheering  of  the  hearts  of  all  true  children  of  religion.  It  is 
admitted  that  no  one  has  ever  been  able  to  approach  his  excel- 
lence in  the  arrangement  of  the  Fete-Die  u ;  and  the  tune  to 
which  the  devils  cudgel  King  Herod,  to  the  great  edification  of 
all  Christian  spectators,  is  of  our  good  king's  royal  composition. 
He  hath  danced  at  Tarasconne  in  the  ballet  of  St.  Martha  and 
the  Dragon,  and  was  accounted  in  his  own  person  the  only 
actor  competent  to  present  the  Tarrasque.  His  Highness  intro- 
duced also  a  new  ritual  into  the  consecration  of  the  Boy  Bishop, 
and  composed  an  entire  set  of  grotesque  music  for  the  Festival 
of  Asses.  In  short,  his  Grace's  strength  lies  in  those  pleasing 
and  becoming  festivities  which  strew  the  path  of  edification 
with  flowers,  and  send  men  dancing  and  singing  on  their  way 
to  Heaven. 

'  Now  the  good  King  E,en^,  feeling  his  own  genius  for  such 
recreative  compositions,  resolved  to  exert  it  to  the  utmost, 
in  the  hope  that  he  might  thereby  relieve  the  melancholy  in 
which  his  daughter  was  plunged,  and  which  infected  all  that 
approached  her.  It  chanced,  some  short  time  since,  that  the 
Queen  was  absent  for  certain  days,  I  know  not  where  or  on 
what  business,  but  it  gave  the  good  king  time  to  make  his 
preparations.  So,  when  his  daughter  returned,  he  with  much 
importunity  prevailed  on  her  to  make  part  of  a  religious  proces- 
sion to  St.  Sauveur,  the  principal  church  in  Aix.  The  Queen, 
innocent  of  what  was  intended,  decked  herself  with  solemnity, 
to  witness  and  partake  of  what  she  expected  would  prove  a 
work  of  grave  piety.  But  no  sooner  had  she  appeared  on  the 
esplanade  in  front  of  the  palace  than  more  than  an  hundred 
masks,  dressed  up  like  Turks,  Jews,  Saracens,  Moors,  and  I 


382  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

know  not  whom  besides,  crowded  around  to  offer  her  their 
homage,  in  the  character  of  the  Queen  of  Sheba;  and  a 
grotesque  piece  of  music  called  them  to  arrange  themselves  for 
a  ludicrous  ballet,  in  which  they  addressed  the  Queen  in  the 
most  entertaining  manner,  and  with  the  most  extravagant 
gestures.  The  Queen,  stunned  with  the  noise,  and  affronted 
with  the  petulance  of  this  unexpected  onset,  would  have  gone 
back  into  the  palace;  but  the  doors  had  been  shut  by  the 
King's  order  so  soon  as  she  set  forth,  and  her  retreat  in  that 
direction  was  cut  off.  Finding  herself  excluded  from  the 
palace,  the  Queen  advanced  to  the  front  of  the  fa9ade,  and 
endeavoured  by  signs  and  words  to  appease  the  hubbub ;  but 
the  maskers,  who  had  their  instructions,  only  answered  with 
songs,  music,  and  shouts.' 

'I  would,'  said  Arthur,  *  there  had  been  a  score  of  English 
yeomen  in  presence,  with  their  quarter- staves,  to  teach  the  bawl- 
ing villains  respect  for  one  that  has  worn  the  crown  of  England  ! ' 

'All  the  noise  that  was  made  before  was  silence  and  soft 
music,'  continued  Thiebault,  'till  that  when  the  good  king 
himself  appeared,  grotesquely  dressed  in  the  character  of  King 
Solomon ' 

'  To  whom,  of  all  princes,  he  has  the  least  resemblance ' 

said  Arthur. 

'With  such  capers  and  gesticulations  of  welcome  to  the 
Queen  of  Sheba  as,  I  am  assured  by  those  who  saw  it,  would 
have  brought  a  dead  man  alive  again,  or  killed  a  living  man 
with  laughing.  Among  other  properties,  he  had  in  his  hand  a 
truncheon,  somewhat  formed  like  a  fool's  bauble ' 

'  A  most  fit  sceptre  for  such  a  sovereign '  said  Arthur. 

'Which  was  headed,'  continued  Thiebault,  'by  a  model  of 
the  Jewish  Temple,  finely  gilded  and  curiously  cut  in  paste- 
board. He  managed  this  with  the  utmost  grace,  and  delighted 
every  spectator  by  his  gaiety  and  activity,  excepting  the  Queen, 
who,  the  more  he  skipped  and  capered,  seemed  to  be  the  more 
incensed,  until,  on  his  approaching  her  to  conduct  her  to  the 
procession,  she  seemed  roused  to  a  sort  of  frenzy,  struck  the 
truncheon  out  of  his  hand,  and  breaking  through  the  crowd, 
who  felt  as  if  a  tigress  had  leapt  amongst  them  from  a  show- 
man's cart,  rushed  into  the  royal  court-yard.  Ere  the  order  of 
the  scenic  representation,  which  her  violence  had  interrupted, 
could  be  restored,  the  Queen  again  issued  forth,  mounted  and 
attended  by  two  or  three  English  cavaliers  of  her  Majesty's 
suite.     She  forced  her  way  through  the  crowd,  without  regard- 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  383 

ing  either  their  safety  or  her  own,  flew  like  a  hail-storm  along 
the  streets,  and  never  drew  bridle  till  she  was  as  far  up  this 
same  Mont  St.  Victoire  as  the  road  would  permit.  She  was 
then  received  into  the  convent,  and  has  since  remained  there ; 
and  a  vow  of  penance  is  the  pretext  to  cover  over  the  quarrel 
betwixt  her  and  her  father.' 

'How  long  may  it  be,'  said  Arthur,  *  since  these  things 
chanced  1 ' 

'  It  is  but  three  days  since  Queen  Margaret  left  Aix  in  the 
manner  I  have  told  you.  But  we  are  come  as  far  up  the  moun- 
tain as  men  usually  ride.  See,  yonder  is  the  monastery  rising 
betwixt  two  huge  rocks,  which  form  the  very  top  of  Mont  St. 
Victoire.  There  is  no  more  open  ground  than  is  afforded  by 
the  cleft,  into  which  the  convent  of  St.  Mary  of  Victory  is,  as 
it  were,  niched  ;  and  the  access  is  guarded  by  the  most  danger- 
ous precipices.  To  ascend  the  mountain,  you  must  keep  that 
narrow  path,  which,  winding  and  turning  among  the  cliffs, 
leads  at  length  to  the  summit  of  the  hill,  and  the  gate  of  the 
monastery.' 

'  And  what  becomes  of  you  and  the  horses  ? '  said  Arthur. 

'We  will  rest,'  said  Thiebault,  'in  the  hospital  maintained 
by  the  good  fathers  at  the  bottom  of  the  mountain,  for  the 
accommodation  of  those  who  attend  on  pilgrims  ;  for  I  promise 
you  the  shrine  is  visited  by  many  who  come  from  afar,  and  are 
attended  both  by  man  and  horse.  Care  not  for  me,  I  shall  be 
first  under  cover ;  but  there  muster  yonder  in  the  west  some 
threatening  clouds,  from  which  your  seignorie  may  suffer  incon- 
venience, unless  you  reach  the  convent  in  time.  I  will  give 
you  an  hour  to  do  the  feat,  and  will  say  you  are  as  active  as  a 
chamois  hunter  if  you  reach  it  within  the  time.' 

Arthur  looked  around  him,  and  did  indeed  remark  a  muster- 
ing of  clouds  in  the  distant  west,  which  threatened  soon  to 
change  the  character  of  the  day,  which  had  hitherto  been 
brilliantly  clear,  and  so  serene  that  the  falling  of  a  leaf  might 
have  been  heard.  He  therefore  turned  him  to  the  steep  and 
rocky  path  which  ascended  the  mountain,  sometimes  by  scaling 
almost  precipitous  rocks,  and  sometimes  by  reaching  their  tops 
by  a  more  circuitous  process.  It  winded  through  thickets  of 
wild  boxwood  and  other  low  aromatic  shrubs,  which  afforded 
some  pasture  for  the  mountain  goats,  but  were  a  bitter  annoy- 
ance to  the  traveller  who  had  to  press  through  them.  Such 
obstacles  were  so  frequent,  that  the  full  hour  allowed  by  Thie- 
bault had  elapsed  before  he  stood  on  the  summit  of  Mont 


584  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

St.  Victoire,  and  in  front  of  the  singular  convent  of  the  same 
name. 

We  have  already  said  that  the  crest  of  the  mountain,  con- 
sisting entirely  of  one  bare  and  solid  rock,  was  divided  by  a 
cleft  or  opening  into  two  heads  or  peaks,  between  which  the 
convent  was  built,  occupying  all  the  space  between  them.  The 
front  of  the  building  was  of  the  most  ancient  and  sombre  cast 
of  the  old  Gothic,  or  rather,  as  it  has  been  termed,  the  Saxon ; 
and  in  that  respect  corresponded  with  the  savage  exterior  of  the 
naked  cliffs,  of  which  the  structure  seemed  to  make  a  part,  and 
by  which  it  was  entirely  surrounded,  excepting  a  small  open 
space  of  more  level  ground,  where,  at  the  expense  of  much  toil, 
and  by  carrying  earth  up  the  hill,  from  different  spots  where 
they  could  collect  it  in  small  quantities,  the  good  fathers  had 
been  able  to  arrange  the  accommodations  of  a  garden. 

A  bell  summoned  a  lay-brother,  the  porter  of  this  singularly 
situated  monastery,  to  whom  Arthur  announced  himself  as  an 
English  merchant,  Philipson  by  name,  who  came  to  pay  his 
duty  to  Queen  Margaret.  The  porter,  with  much  respect, 
showed  the  stranger  into  the  convent,  and  ushered  him  into  a 
parlour,  which,  looking  towards  Aix,  commanded  an  extensive 
and  splendid  prospect  over  the  southern  and  western  parts 
of  Provence.  This  was  the  direction  in  which  Arthur  had 
approached  the  mountain  from  Aix ;  but  the  circuitous  path 
by  which  he  had  ascended  had  completely  carried  him  round 
the  hill.  The  western  side  of  the  monastery,  to  which  the 
parlour  looked,  commanded  the  noble  view  we  have  mentioned ; 
and  a  species  of  balcony,  which,  connecting  the  two  twin  crags, 
at  this  place  not  above  four  or  five  yards  asunder,  ran  along 
the  front  of  the  building,  and  appeared  to  be  constructed  for 
the  purpose  of  enjoying  it.  But  on  stepping  from  one  of  the 
windows  of  the  parlour  upon  this  battlemehted  bartizan,  Arthur 
became  aware  that  the  wall  on  which  the  parapet  rested 
stretched  along  the  edge  of  a  precipice,  which  sunk  sheer  down 
five  hundred  feet  at  least  from  the  foundations  of  the  convent. 
Surprised  and  startled  at  finding  himself  on  so  giddy  a  verge, 
Arthur  turned  his  eyes  from  the  gulf  beneath  him  to  admire 
the  distant  landscape,  partly  illumined,  with  ominous  lustre,  by 
the  now  westerly  sun.  The  setting  beams  showed  in  dark  red 
splendour  a  vast  variety  of  hill  and  dale,  champaign  and  cul- 
tivated ground,  with  towns,  churches,  and  castles,  some  of 
which  rose  from  among  trees,  while  others  seemed  founded  on 
rocky  eminences ;  others  again  lurked  by  the  side  of  streams 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  385 

or  lakes,  to  which  the  heat  and  drought  of  the  climate  naturally 
attracted  them. 

The  rest  of  the  landscape  presented  similar  objects  when 
the  weather  was  serene,  but  they  were  now  rendered  indistinct, 
or  altogether  obliterated,  by  the  sullen  shade  of  the  approaching 
clouds,  which  gradually  spread  over  great  part  of  the  horizon, 
and  threatened  altogether  to  eclipse  the  sun,  though  the  lord 
of  the  horizon  still  struggled  to  maintain  his  influence,  and, 
like  a  dying  hero,  seemed  most  glorious  even  in  the  moment  of 
defeat.  Wild  sounds,  like  groans  and  howls,  formed  by  the 
wind  in  the  numerous  caverns  of  the  rocky  mountain,  added  to 
the  terrors  of  the  scene,  and  seemed  to  foretell  the  fury  of 
some  distant  storm,  though  the  air  in  general  was  even  unnatu- 
rally calm  and  breathless.  In  gazing  on  this  extraordinary 
scene,  Arthur  did  justice  to  the  monks  who  had  chosen  this  wild 
and  grotesque  situation,  from  which  they  could  witness  nature 
in  her  wildest  and  grandest  demonstrations,  and  compare  the 
nothingness  of  humanity  with  her  awful  convulsions. 

So  much  was  Arthur  awed  by  the  scene  before  him,  that  he 
had  almost  forgotten,  while  gazing  from  the  bartizan,  the  im- 
portant business  which  had  brought  him  to  this  place,  when  it 
was  suddenly  recalled  by  finding  himself  in  the  presence  of 
Margaret  of  Anjou,  who,  not  seeing  him  in  the  parlour  of  re- 
ception, had  stept  upon  the  balcony,  that  she  might  meet  with 
him  the  sooner. 

The  Queen's  dress  was  black,  without  any  ornament  except 
a  gold  coronal  of  an  inch  in  breadth,  restraining  her  long  black 
tresses,  of  which  advancing  years,  and  misfortunes,  had  partly 
altered  the  hue.  There  was  placed  within  the  circlet  a  black 
plume  with  a  red  rose,  the  last  of  the  season,  which  the  good 
father  who  kept  the  garden  had  presented  to  her  that  morning, 
as  the  badge  of  her  husband's  house.  Care,  fatigue,  and  sorrow 
seemed  to  dwell  on  her  brow  and  her  features.  To  another 
messenger,  she  would  in  all  probability  have  administered  a 
sharp  rebuke  for  not  being  alert  in  his  duty  to  receive  her  as 
she  entered;  but  Arthur's  age  and  appearance  corresponded 
with  that  of  her  loved  and  lost  son.  He  was  the  son  of  a  lady 
whom  Margaret  had  loved  with  almost  sisterly  affection,  and 
the  presence  of  Arthur  continued  to  excite  in  the  dethroned 
queen  the  same  feelings  of  maternal  tenderness  which  had  been 
awakened  on  their  first  meeting  in  the  cathedral  of  Strasburg. 
She  raised  him  as  he  kneeled  at  her  feet,  spoke  to  him  with 
much  kindness,  and  encouraged  hi^  to  detail  at  full  length  his 
YOL.  xxm — 25 


S86  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

father's  message,  and  such  other  news  as  his  brief  residence  at 
Dijon  had  made  him  acquainted  with. 

She  demanded  which  way  Duke  Charles  had  moved  with  his 
army. 

*  As  I  was  given  to  understand  by  the  master  of  his  artillery,' 
said  Arthur,  'towards  the  Lake  of  Neufchatel,  on  which  side  he 
proposes  his  first  attack  on  the  Swiss.' 

'  The  headstrong  fool ! '  said  Queen  Margaret,  *  he  resembles 
the  poor  lunatic  who  went  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain 
that  he  might  meet  the  rain  half-way.  Does  thy  father,  then,' 
continued  Margaret,  '  advise  me  to  give  up  the  last  remains  of 
the  extensive  territories  once  the  dominions  of  our  royal  house, 
and  for  some  thousand  crowns,  and  the  paltry  aid  of  a  few 
hundred  lances,  to  relinquish  what  is  left  of  our  patrimony  to 
our  proud  and  selfish  kinsman  of  Burgundy,  who  extends  his 
claim  to  our  all,  and  affords  so  little  help,  or  even  promise  of 
help,  in  return  V 

'  I  should  have  ill  discharged  my  father's  commission,'  said 
Arthur,  *  if  I  had  left  your  Highness  to  think  that  he  recom- 
mends so  great  a  sacrifice.  He  feels  most  deeply  the  Duke 
of  Burgundy's  grasping  desire  of  dominion.  Nevertheless,  he 
thinks  that  Provence  must,  on  King  Kent's  death,  or  sooner, 
fall  either  to  the  share  of  Duke  Charles  or  to  Louis  of  France, 
whatever  opposition  your  Highness  may  make  to  such  a  desti- 
nation ;  and  it  may  be  that  my  father,  as  a  knight  and  a  soldier, 
hopes  much  fi'om  obtaining  the  means  to  make  another  attempt 
on  Britain.     But  the  decision  must  rest  with  your  Highness.' 

'  Young  man,'  said  the  Queen,  *the  contemplation  of  a  ques- 
tion so  doubtful  almost  deprives  me  of  reason.' 

As  she  spoke,  she  sunk  down  as  one  who  needs  rest  on  a 
stone  seat  placed  on  the  very  verge  of  the  balcony,  regardless 
of  the  storm,  which  now  began  to  rise  with  dreadful  gusts  of 
wind,  the  course  of  which  being  intermitted  and  altered  by  the 
crags  round  which  they  howled,  it  seemed  as  if  in  very  deed 
Boreas,  and  Eurus,  and  Caurus,  unchaining  the  winds  from 
every  quarter  of  heaven,  were  contending  for  mastery  around 
the  convent  of  Our  Lady  of  Victory.  Amid  this  tumult,  and 
amid  billows  of  mist  which  concealed  the  bottom  of  the  precipice, 
and  masses  of  clouds  which  racked  fearfully  over  their  heads, 
the  roar  of  the  descending  waters  rather  resembled  the  fall  of 
cataracts  than  the  rushing  of  torrents  of  rain.  The  seat  on 
which  Margaret  had  placed  herself  was  in  a  considerable  degree 
sheltered  from  the  storm,  but  its  eddies,  varying  in  every 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  887 

direction,  often  tossed  aloft  her  dishevelled  hair;  and  we 
cannot  describe  the  appearance  of  her  noble  and  beautiful, 
yet  ghastly  and  wasted,  features,  agitated  strongly  by  anxious 
hesitation  and  conflicting  thoughts,  unless  to  those  of  our  readers 
who  have  had  the  advantage  of  having  seen  our  inimitable 
Siddons  in  such  a  character  as  this.  Arthur,  confounded  by 
anxiety  and  terror,  could  only  beseech  her  Majesty  to  retire 
before  the  fury  of  the  approaching  storm  into  the  interior  of 
the  convent. 

'No,'  she  replied  with  firmness;  'roofs  and  walls  have  ears, 
and  monks,  though  they  have  forsworn  the  world,  are  not  the 
less  curious  to  know  what  passes  beyond  their  cells.  It  is  in 
this  place  you  must  hear  what  I  have  to  say.  As  a  soldier  you 
should  scorn  a  blast  of  wind  or  a  shower  of  rain ;  and  to  me, 
who  have  often  held  counsel  amidst  the  sound  of  trumpets  and 
clash  of  arms,  prompt  for  instant  fight,  the  war  of  elements 
is  an  unnoticed  trifle.  I  tell  thee,  young  Arthur  Vere,  as  I 
would  to  your  father  —  as  I  would  to  my  son  —  if  indeed  Heaven 
had  left  such  a  blessing  to  a  wretch  forlorn ' 

She  paused,  and  then  proceeded. 

'  I  tell  thee,  as  I  would  have  told  my  beloved  Edward,  that 
Margaret,  whose  resolutions  were  once  firm  and  immovable  as 
these  rocks  among  which  we  are  placed,  is  now  doubtful  and 
variable  as  the  clouds  which  are  drifting  around  us.  I  told 
your  father,  in  the  joy  of  meeting  once  more  a  subject  of  such 
inappreciable  loyalty,  of  the  sacrifices  I  would  make  to  assure 
the  assistance  of  Charles  of  Burgundy  to  so  gallant  an  under- 
taking as  that  proposed  to  him  by  the  faithful  Oxford.  But 
since  I  saw  him  I  have  had  cause  of  deep  reflection.  I  met 
my  aged  father  only  to  ofiend,  and,  I  say  it  with  shame,  to 
insult,  the  old  man  in  presence  of  his  people.  Our  tempers  are 
as  opposed  as  the  sunshine,  which  a  short  space  since  gilded  a 
serene  and  beautiful  landscape,  differs  from  the  tempests  which 
are  now  wasting  it.  I  spumed  with  open  scorn  and  contempt 
what  he,  in  his  mistaken  affection,  had  devised  for  means 
of  consolation,  and,  disgusted  with  the  idle  follies  which  he 
had  devised  for  curing  the  melancholy  of  a  dethroned  queen, 
a  widowed  spouse,  and,  alas !  a  childless  mother,  I  retired 
hither  from  the  noisy  and  idle  mirth,  which  was  the  bitterest 
aggravation  of  my  sorrows.  Such  and  so  gentle  is  Rent's 
temper,  that  even  my  unfilial  conduct  will  not  diminish  my 
influence  over  him;  and  if  your  father  had  announced  that 
the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  like  a  knight  and  a  sovereign,  had 


388  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

cordially  and  nobly  entered  into  the  plan  of  the  faithful 
Oxford,  I  could  have  found  it  in  my  heart  to  obtain  the  cession 
of  territory  his  cold  and  ambitious  policy  requires,  in  order  to 
ensure  the  assistance  which  he  now  postpones  to  afford  till  he 
has  gratified  his  own  haughty  humour  by  settling  needless 
quarrels  with  his  unoffending  neighbours.  Since  I  have  been 
here,  and  calmness  and  solitude  have  given  me  time  to  reflect, 
I  have  thought  on  the  offences  I  have  given  the  old  man,  and 
on  the  wrongs  1  was  about  to  do  him.  My  father,  let  me  do 
him  j  ustice,  is  also  the  father  of  his  people.  They  have  dwelt 
under  their  vines  and  fig-trees,  in  ignoble  ease,  perhaps,  but 
free  from  oppression  and  exaction,  and  their  happiness  has  been 
that  of  their  good  king.  Must  I  change  all  this  ?  Must  I  aid 
in  turning  over  these  contented  people  to  a  fierce,  headlong,  arbi- 
trary prince  1  May  I  not  break  even  the  easy  and  thoughtless 
heart  of  my  poor  old  father,  should  I  succeed  in  urging  him  to 
do  so  1  These  are  questions  which  I  shudder  even  to  ask  myself. 
On  the  other  hand,  to  disappoint  the  toils,  the  venturous  hopes 
of  your  father,  to  forego  the  only  opportunity  which  may  ever 
again  offer  itself  of  revenge  on  the  bloody  traitors  of  York, 
and  restoration  of  the  house  of  Lancaster !  Arthur,  the  scene 
around  us  is  not  so  convulsed  by  the  fearful  tempest  and  the 
driving  clouds  as  my  mind  is  by  doubt  and  uncertainty.' 

*Alas,'  replied  Arthur,  'I  am  too  young  and  inexperienced 
to  be  your  Majesty's  adviser  in  a  case  so  arduous.  I  would  my 
father  had  been  in  presence  himself.' 

*I  know  what  he  would  have  said,'  replied  the  Queen;  'but 
knowing  all,  I  despair  of  aid  from  human  counsellors.  I  have 
sought  others,  but  they  also  are  deaf  to  my  entreaties.  Yes, 
Arthur,  Margaret's  misfortunes  have  rendered  her  superstitious. 
Kjiow,  that  beneath  these  rocks,  and  under  the  foundation  of 
this  convent,  there  runs  a  cavern,  entering  by  a  secret  and 
defended  passage  a  little  to  the  westward  of  the  summit,  and 
running  through  the  mountain,  having  an  opening  to  the  south, 
from  wnich,  as  from  this  bartizan,  you  can  view  the  landscape 
so  lately  seen  from  this  balcony,  or  the  strife  of  winds  and  con- 
fusion of  clouds  which  we  now  behold.  In  the  middle  of  this 
cavernous  thoroughfare  is  a  natural  pit,  or  perforation,  of  great 
but  unknown  depth.  A  stone  dropped  into  it  is  heard  to  dash 
from  side  to  side,  until  the  noise  of  its  descent,  thundering 
from  cliff  to  cliff,  dies  away  in  distant  and  faint  tinkling,  less 
loud  than  that  of  a  sheep's  bell  at  a  mile's  distance.  The  com- 
mon people,  in  their  jargon,  call  this  fearful  gulf  Lou  Gara- 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  389 

goule;  and  the  traditions  of  the  monastery  annex  wild  and 
fearful  recollections  to  a  place  in  itself  sufficiently  terrible. 
Oracles,  it  is  said,  spoke  from  thence  in  pagan  days,  by  subter- 
ranean voices,  arising  from  the  abyss;  and  from  these  the 
Roman  general  is  said  to  have  heard,  in  strange  and  uncouth 
rhymes,  promises  of  the  victory  which  gives  name  to  this 
mountain.  These  oracles,  it  is  averred,  may  be  yet  consulted 
after  performance  of  strange  rites,  in  which  heathen  ceremonies 
are  mixed  with  Christian  acts  of  devotion.  The  abbots  of 
Mont  St.  Victoire  have  denounced  the  consultation  of  Lou 
Garagoule,  and  the  spirits  who  reside  there,  to  be  criminal. 
But,  as  the  sin  may  be  expiated  by  presents  to  the  church,  by 
masses,  and  penances,  the  door  is  sometimes  opened  by  the 
complaisant  fathers  to  those  whose  daring  curiosity  leads  them, 
at  all  risks,  and  by  whatever  means,  to  search  into  futurity. 
Arthur,  I  have  made  the  experiment,  and  am  even  now  returned 
from  the  gloomy  cavern,  in  which,  according  to  the  traditional 
ritual,  I  have  spent  six  hours  by  the  margin  of  the  gulf,  a  place 
so  dismal,  that  after  its  horrors  even  this  tempestuous  scene  is 
refreshing.' 

The  Queen  stopped,  and  Arthur,  the  more  struck  with  the 
wild  tale  that  it  reminded  him  of  his  place  of  imprisonment  at 
La  Ferette,  asked  anxiously  if  her  inquiries  had  obtained  any 
answer. 

'None  whatever,'  replied  the  unhappy  princess.  'The  de- 
mons of  Garagoule,  if  there  be  such,  are  deaf  to  the  suit  of 
an  unfortunate  wretch  like  me,  to  whom  neither  friends  nor 
fiends  will  afford  counsel  or  assistance.  It  is  my  father's 
circumstances  which  prevent  my  instant  and  strong  resolu- 
tion. Were  my  own  claims  on  this  piping  and  paltry  nation 
of  troubadours  alone  interested,  I  could,  for  the  chance  of 
once  more  setting  my  foot  in  Merry  England,  as  easily  and 
willingly  resign  them  and  their  paltry  coronet  as  I  commit 
to  the  storm  this  idle  emblem  of  the  royal  rank  which  I  have 
lost.' 

As  Margaret  spoke,  she  tore  from  her  hair  the  sable  feather 
and  rose  which  the  tempest  had  detached  from  the  circlet  in 
which  they  were  placed,  and  tossed  them  from  the  battlement 
with  a  gesture  of  wild  energy.  They  were  instantly  whirled 
off  in  a  bickering  eddy  of  the  agitated  clouds,  which  swept  the 
feather  far  distant  into  empty  space,  through  which  the  eye 
could  not  pursue  it.  But  while  that  of  Arthur  involuntarily 
strove  to  follow  its  course,  a  contrary  gust  of  wind  caught  the 


390  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

red  rose  and  drove  it  back  against  his  breast,  so  that  it  was 
easy  for  him  to  catch  hold  of  and  retain  it. 

*Joy — joy,  and  good  fortune,  royal  mistress!'  he  said,  re- 
turning to  her  the  emblematic  flower  :  '  the  tempest  brings  back 
the  badge  of  Lancaster  to  its  proper  owner.' 

*  I  accept  the  omen,'  said  Margaret ;  *  but  it  concerns  your- 
self, noble  youth,  and  not  me.  The  feather,  which  is  borne 
away  to  waste  and  desolation,  is  Margaret's  emblem.  My  eyes 
will  never  see  the  restoration  of  the  line  of  Lancaster.  But 
you  will  live  to  behold  it,  and  to  aid  to  achieve  it,  and  to  dye 
our  red  rose  deeper  yet  in  the  blood  of  tyrants  and  traitors. 
My  thoughts  are  so  strangely  poised,  that  a  feather  or  a  flower 
may  turn  the  scale.  But  my  head  is  still  giddy  and  my  heart 
sick.  To-morrow  you  shall  see  another  Margaret,  and  till  then 
adieu.' 

It  was  time  to  retire,  for  the  tempest  began  to  be  mingled 
with  fiercer  showers  of  rain.  When  they  re-entered  the  par- 
lour, the  Queen  clapped  her  hands,  and  two  female  attendants 
entered. 

'Let  the  father  abbot  know,'  she  said,  *that  it  is  our  desire 
that  this  young  gentleman  receive  for  this  night  such  hospi- 
tality as  befits  an  esteemed  friend  of  ours.  Till  to-morrow, 
young  sir,  farewell.' 

With  a  countenance  which  betrayed  not  the  late  emotion  of 
her  mind,  and  with  a  stately  courtesy  that  would  have  become 
her  when  she  graced  the  halls  of  Windsor,  she  extended  her 
hand,  which  the  youth  saluted  respectfully.  After  her  leaving 
the  parlour,  the  abbot  entered,  and  in  his  attention  to  Arthur's 
entertainment  and  accommodation  for  the  evening  showed  his 
anxiety  to  meet  and  obey  Queen  Margaret's  wishes. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

Want  you  a  man 
Experienced  in  the  world  and  its  affairs  ? 
Here  he  is  for  your  purpose.     He 's  a  monk. 
He  hath  forsworn  the  world  and  all  its  work. 
The  rather  that  he  knows  it  passing  well. 
Special  the  worst  of  it,  for  he 's  a  monk. 

Old  Play. 

WHILE  the  dawn  of  the  morning  was  yet  grey,  Arthur 
was  awakened  by  a  loud  ringing  at  the  gate  of  the 
monastery,  and  presently  afterwards  the  porter  en- 
tered the  cell  which  had  been  allotted  to  him  for  his  lodgings, 
to  tell  him  that,  if  his  name  was  Arthur  Philipson,  a  brother  of 
their  order  had  brought  him  despatches  from  his  father.  The 
youth  started  up,  hastily  attired  himself,  and  was  introduced  in 
the  parlour  to  a  Carmelite  monk,  being  of  the  same  order  with 
the  community  of  St.  Victoire. 

*  I  have  ridden  many  a  mile,  young  man,  to  present  you  with 
this  letter,'  said  the  monk,  '  haviug  undertaken  to  your  father 
that  it  should  be  delivered  without  delay.  I  came  to  Aix 
last  night  during  the  storm,  and  learning  at  the  palace  that 
you  had  ridden  hither,  I  mounted  as  soon  as  the  tempest 
abated,  and  here  I  am.' 

*  I  am  beholden  to  you,  father,'  said  the  youth,  *  and  if  I  could 
repay  your  pains  with  a  small  donative  to  your  convent ' 

'  By  no  means,'  answered  the  good  father ;  *  I  took  my 
personal  trouble  out  of  friendship  to  your  father,  and  mine 
own  errand  led  me  this  way.  The  expenses  of  my  long  journey 
have  been  amply  provided  for.  But  open  your  packet,  I  can 
answer  your  questions  at  leisure.' 

The  young  man  accordingly  stepped  into  an  embrasure  of  the 
window,  and  read  as  follows  :  — 

*  Son  Arthttb  —  Touching  the  state  of  the  country,  in  so  far 
?bs  concerns  the  safety  of  travelling,  know  that  the  same  is 


392  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

precarious.  The  Duke  hath  taken  the  towns  of  Brie  and 
Granson,  and  put  to  death  five  hundred  men  whom  he  made 
prisoners  in  garrison  there.  But  the  Confederates  are  approach- 
ing with  a  large  force,  and  God  will  judge  for  the  right.  How- 
soever the  game  may  go,  these  are  sharp  wars,  in  which  little 
quarter  is  spoken  of  on  either  side,  and  therefore  there  is  no 
safety  for  men  of  our  profession  till  something  decisive  shall 
happen.  In  the  meantime,  you  may  assure  the  widowed  lady 
that  our  correspondent  continues  well  disposed  to  purchase  the 
property  which  she  has  in  hand ;  hut  will  scarce  be  able  to 
pay  the  price  till  his  present  pressing  affairs  shall  be  settled, 
which  I  hope  will  be  in  time  to  permit  us  to  embark  the  funds 
in  the  profitable  adventure  I  told  our  friend  of  I  have  em- 
ployed a  firiar,  travelling  to  Provence,  to  carry  this  letter,  which 
I  trust  will  come  safe.     The  bearer  may  be  trusted. 

*  Your  afi'ectionate  father, 

*JOHN  PhILIPSON.' 

Arthur  easily  comprehended  the  latter  part  of  the  epistle, 
and  rejoiced  he  had  received  it  at  so  critical  a  moment.  He 
questioned  the  Carmelite  on  the  amount  of  the  Duke's  army, 
which  the  monk  stated  to  amount  to  sixty  thousand  men, 
while  he  said  the  Confederates,  though  making  every  exertion, 
had  not  yet  been  able  to  assemble  the  third  part  of  that 
number.  The  young  Ferrand  de  Vaudemont  was  with  their 
army,  and  had  received,  it  was  thought,  some  secret  assistance 
from  France ;  but  as  he  was  little  known  in  arms,  and  had  few 
followers,  the  empty  title  of  general  which  he  bore  added  little 
to  the  strength  of  the  Confederates.  Upon  the  whole,  he 
reported  that  every  chance  appeared  to  be  in  favour  of  Charles, 
and  Arthur,  who  looked  upon  his  success  as  presenting  the 
only  chance  in  favour  of  his  father's  enterprise,  was  not  a  little 
pleased  to  find  it  ensured,  as  far  as  depended  on  a  great 
superiority  of  force.  He  had  no  leisure  to  make  farther  in- 
quiries, for  the  Queen  at  that  moment  entered  the  apartment, 
and  the  Carmelite,  learning  her  quality,  withdrew  from  her 
presence  in  deep  reverence. 

The  paleness  of  her  complexion  still  bespoke  the  fatigues  of 
the  day  preceding ;  but,  as  she  graciously  bestowed  on  Arthur 
the  greetings  of  the  morning,  her  voice  was  firm,  her  eye  clear, 
and  her  countenance  st^eady.  *  I  meet  you,'  she  said,  '  not  as  I 
left  you,  but  determined  in  my  purpose.     I  am  satisfied  that. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  393 

if  Ren^  does  not  voluntarily  3deld  up  his  throne  of  Provence, 
by  some  step  like  that  which  we  propose,  he  will  be  hurled 
from  it  by  violence,  in  which,  it  may  be,  his  life  will  not  be 
spared.  We  will,  therefore,  to  work  with  all  'speed.  The  worst 
is,  that  I  cannot  leave  this  convent  till  I  have  made  the 
necessary  penances  for  having  visited  the  Garagoule,  without 
performing  which  I  were  no  Christian  woman.  When  you 
return  to  Aix,  inquire  at  the  palace  for  my  secretary,  with 
whom  this  line  will  give  you  credence.  I  have,  even  before 
this  door  of  hope  opened  to  me,  endeavoured  to  form  an 
estimate  of  King  Rent's  situation,  and  collected  the  documents 
for  that  purpose.  Tell  him  to  send  me,  duly  sealed  and  under 
fitting  charge,  the  small  cabinet  hooped  vdth.  silver.  Hours  of 
penance  for  past  errors  may  be  employed  to  prevent  others ; 
and,  fi:om  the  contents  of  that  cabinet,  I  shall  learn  whether  I 
am,  in  this  weighty  matter,  sacrificing  my  father's  interests  to 
my  own  half- desperate  hopes.  But  of  this  I  have  little  or  no 
doubt.  I  can  cause  the  deeds  of  resignation  and  transference 
to  be  drawn  up  here  under  my  own  direction,  and  arrange  the 
execution  of  them  when  I  return  to  Aix,  which  shall  be  the 
first  moment  after  my  penance  is  concluded.' 

'And  this  letter,  gracious  madam,'  said  Arthur,  'will  inform 
you  what  events  are  approaching,  and  of  what  importance  it 
may  be  to  take  time  by  the  forelock.  Place  me  but  in  pos- 
session of  these  momentous  deeds,  and  I  will  travel  night 
and  day  till  I  reach  the  Duke's  camp.  I  shall  find  him  most 
likely  in  the  moment  of  victory,  and  with  his  heart  too  much 
open  to  refuse  a  boon  to  the  royal  kinswoman  who  is  surren- 
dering to  him  all.  We  will,  we  must  in  such  an  hour  ob- 
tain princely  succours ;  and  we  shall  soon  see  if  the  licentious 
Edward  of  York,  the  savage  Richard,  the  treacherous  and 
perjured  Clarence,  are  hereafter  to  be  lords  of  Merry  Eng- 
land, or  whether  they  must  give  place  to  a  more  rightful 
sovereign  and  better  man.  But  0  !  royal  madam,  all  depends 
on  haste.' 

'  True  ;  yet  a  few  days  may,  nay,  must,  cast  the  die  between 
Charles  and  his  opponents ;  and,  ere  making  so  great  a  surrender, 
it  were  as  well  to  be  assured  that  he  whom  we  would  propitiate 
is  in  capacity  to  assist  us.  All  the  events  of  a  tragic  and  varied 
life  have  led  me  to  see  there  is  no  such  thing  as  an  inconsider- 
able enemy.  I  will  make  haste,  however,  trusting  in  the  in- 
terim we  may  have  good  news  from  the  banks  of  the  lake  at 
Neufchatel.' 


394  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  But  who  shall  be  employed  to  draw  these  most  important 
deeds  ? '  said  the  young  man. 

Margaret  mused  ere  she  replied  —  *  The  father  guardian  is 
complaisant,  and  I  think  faithful;  but  I  would  not  willingly 
repose  confidence  in  one  of  the  Provencal  monks.  Stay,  let 
me  think;  your  father  says  the  Carmelite  who  brought  the 
letter  may  be  trusted  —  he  shall  do  the  turn.  He  is  a  stranger, 
and  will  be  silent  for  a  piece  of  money.  Farewell,  Arthur  de 
Vere.  You  will  be  treated  with  all  hospitality  by  my  father. 
If  thou  dost  receive  farther  tidings,  thou  wilt  let  me  know 
them ;  or,  should  I  have  instructions  to  send,  thou  wilt  hear 
from  me.     So,  benedicite.' 

Arthur  proceeded  to  wind  down  the  mountain  at  a  much 
quicker  pace  than  he  had  ascended  on  the  day  before.  The 
weather  was  now  gloriously  serene,  and  the  beauties  of  vegeta- 
tion, in  a  country  where  it  never  totally  slumbers,  were  at  once 
delicious  and  refreshing.  His  thoughts  wandered  from  the 
crags  of  Mont  St.  Victoire  to  the  cliff  of  the  canton  of  Unter- 
walden,  and  fancy  recalled  the  moments  when  his  walks 
through  such  scenery  were  not  solitary,  but  when  there  was  a 
form  by  his  side  whose  simple  beauty  was  engraved  on  his 
memory.  Such  thoughts  were  of  a  preoccupying  nature,  and 
I  grieve  to  say  that  they  entirely  drowned  the  recollection  of 
the  mysterious  caution  given  him  by  his  father,  intimating 
that  Arthur  might  not  be  able  to  comprehend  such  letters  as 
he  should  receive  from  him  till  they  were  warmed  before  a  fire. 

The  first  thing  which  reminded  him  of  this  singular  caution 
was  the  seeing  a  chafing-dish  of  charcoal  in  the  kitchen  of  the 
hostelry  at  the  bottom  of  the  mountain,  where  he  found  Thie- 
bault  and  his  horses.  This  was  the  first  fire  which  he  had  seen 
since  receiving  his  father's  letter,  and  it  reminded  him  not 
unnaturally  of  what  the  Earl  had  recommended.  Great  was 
his  surprise  to  see  that,  after  exposing  the  paper  to  the  fire  as 
if  to  dry  it,  a  word  emerged  in  an  important  passage  of  the 
letter,  and  the  concluding  words  now  read  —  '  The  bearer  may 
not  be  trusted.'  Wellnigh  choked  with  shame  and  vexation, 
Arthur  could  think  of  no  other  remedy  than  instantly  to  return 
to  the  convent  and  acquaint  the  Queen  with  this  discovery, 
which  he  hoped  still  to  convey  to  her  in  time  to  prevent  any 
risk  being  incurred  by  the  Carmelite's  treachery. 

Incensed  at  himself,  and  eager  to  redeem  his  fault,  he  bent 
his  manly  breast  against  the  steep  hill,  which  was  probably 
never  scaled  in  so  short  time  as  by  the  young  heir  of  De  Vere  ^ 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  395 

for,  within  forty  minutes  from  his  commencing  the  ascent,  he 
stood  breatliless  and  panting  in  the  presence  of  Queen  Margaret, 
who  was  alike  surprised  at  his  appearance  and  his  exhausted 
condition. 

'Trust  not  the  Carmelite!'  he  exclaimed.  *You  are  be- 
trayed, noble  Queen,  and  it  is  by  my  negligence.  Here  is  my 
dagger ;  bid  me  strike  it  into  my  heart ! ' 

Margaret  demanded  and  obtained  a  more  special  explanation, 
and  when  it  was  given,  she  said,  '  It  is  an  unhappy  chance ; 
but  your  father's  instructions  ought  to  have  been  more  distinct. 
I  have  told  yonder  Carmelite  the  purpose  of  the  contracts,  and 
engaged  with  him  to  draw  them.  He  has  but  now  left  me  to 
serve  at  the  choir.  There  is  no  withdrawing  the  confidence 
I  have  unhappily  placed;  but  I  can  easily  prevail  with  the 
father  guardian  to  prevent  the  monk  from  leaving  the  convent 
till  we  are  indifferent  to  his  secrecy.  It  is  our  best  chance  to 
secure  it,  and  we  will  take  care  that  what  inconvenience  he 
sustains  by  his  detention  shall  be  weU  recompensed.  Mean- 
while, rest  thou,  good  Arthur,  and  undo  the  throat  of  thy 
mantle.  Poor  youth,  thou  art  wellnigh  exhausted  with  thy 
haste.' 

Arthur  obeyed,  and  sat  down  on  a  seat  in  the  parlour ;  for 
the  speed  which  he  had  exerted  rendered  him  almost  incapable 
of  standing. 

*If  I  could  but  see,'  he  said,  *the  false  monk,  I  would  find 
a  way  to  charm  him  to  secrecy ! ' 

'Better  leave  him  to  me,'  said  the  Queen;  'and  in  a  word, 
I  forbid  you  to  meddle  with  him.  The  coif  can  treat  better 
with  the  cowl  than  the  casque  can  do.  Say  no  more  of  him, 
I  joy  to  see  you  wear  around  your  neck  the  holy  relic  I  bestowed 
on  you  ;  but  what  Moorish  charmlet  is  that  you  wear  beside  it  ? 
Alas!  I  need  not  ask.  Your  heightened  colour,  almost  as 
deep  as  when  you  entered  a  quarter  of  an  hour  hence,  con- 
fesses a  true-love  token.  Alas  !  poor  boy,  hast  thou  not  only 
such  a  share  of  thy  country's  woes  to  bear,  but  also  thine  own 
load  of  affliction,  not  the  less  poignant  now  that  future  time 
will  show  thee  how  fantastic  it  is  1  Margaret  of  Anjou  could 
once  have  aided  wherever  thy  affections  were  placed  ;  but  now 
she  can  only  contribute  to  the  misery  of  her  friends,  not  to 
their  happiness.  But  this  lady  of  the  charm,  Arthur,  is  she  fair 
—  is  she  wise  and  virtuous  —  is  she  of  noble  birth  —  and  does 
she  love  ? '  She  perused  his  countenance  with  the  glance  of 
an  eagle,  and  continued, '  To  all  thou  wouldst  answer  "  Yes,"  if 


396  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

shamefacedness  permitted  thee.  Love  her  then  in  turn,  my 
gallant  boy,  for  love  is  the,  parent  of  brave  actions.  Go,  my 
noble  youth ;  high-born  and  loyal,  valorous  and  virtuous,  en- 
amoured and  youthful,  to  what  mayst  thou  not  rise?  The 
chivalry  of  ancient  Europe  only  lives  in  a  bosom  like  thine. 
Go,  and  let  the  praises  of  a  queen  fire  thy  bosom  with  the  love 
of  honour  and  achievement.     In  three  days  we  meet  at  Aix.' 

Arthur,  highly  gratified  with  the  Queen's  condescension, 
once  more  left  her  presence. 

Returning  down  the  mountain  with  a  speed  very  different 
firom  that  which  he  had  used  in  the  ascent,  he  again  found  his 
Provengal  squire,  who  had  remained  in  much  surprise  at  witness- 
ing the  confusion  in  which  his  master  had  left  the  inn,  almost 
immediately  after  he  had  entered  it  without  any  apparent  haste 
or  agitation.  Arthur  explained  his  hasty  return  by  alleging  he 
had  forgot  his  purse  at  the  convent.  *  Nay,  in  that  case,'  said 
Thiebault,  *  considering  what  you  left  and  where  you  left  it, 
I  do  not  wonder  at  your  speed,  though,  Our  Lady  save  me,  as  I 
never  saw  living  creature,  save  a  goat  with  a  wolf  at  his  heels, 
make  his  way  over  crag  and  briers  with  half  such  rapidity  as 
you  did.' 

They  reached  Aix  after  about  an  hour's  riding,  and  Arthur 
lost  no  time  in  waiting  upon  the  good  King  Ren^,  who  gave  him 
a  kind  reception,  both  in  respect  of  the  letter  from  the  Duke 
of  Burgundy  and  in  consideration  of  his  being  an  Englishman, 
the  avowed  subject  of  the  unfortunate  Margaret.  The  placable 
monarch  soon  forgave  his  young  guest  the  want  of  complaisance 
with  which  he  had  eschewed  to  listen  to  his  compositions ;  and 
Arthur  speedily  found  that  to  apologise  for  his  want  of  breed- 
ing in  that  particular  was  likely  to  lead  to  a  great  deal  more 
rehearsing  than  he  could  find  patience  to  tolerate.  He  could 
only  avoid  the  old  king's  extreme  desire  to  recite  his  own  poems 
and  perform  his  own  music  by  engaging  him  in  speaking  of  his 
daughter  Margaret.  Arthur  had  been  sometimes  induced  to 
doubt  the  influence  which  the  Queen  boasted  herself  to  possess 
over  her  aged  father;  but,  on  being  acquainted  with  him 
personally,  he  became  convinced  that  her  powerful  understand- 
ing and  violent  passions  inspired  the  feeble-minded  and  passive 
king  with  a  mixture  of  pride,  affection,  and  fear,  which  united 
to  give  her  the  most  ample  authority  over  him. 

Although  she  had  parted  with  him  but  a  day  or  two  since, 
and  in  a  manner  so  ungracious  on  her  side.  Rend  was  as  much 
overjoyed  at  hearing  of  the  probability  of  her  speedy  return  as 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  397 

the  fondest  father  could  have  been  at  the  prospect  of  being 
reunited  to  the  most  dutiful  child,  whom  he  had  not  seen  for 
years.  The  old  king  was  impatient  as  a  boy  for  the  day  of  her 
arrival,  and,  still  strangely  unenlightened  on  the  difference  of 
her  taste  from  his  own,  he  was  with  difficulty  induced  to  lay 
aside  a  project  of  meeting  her  in  the  character  of  old  Palemon  — 

The  prince  of  shepherds,  and  their  pride  — 

at  the  head  of  an  Arcadian  procession  of  nymphs  and  swains, 
to  inspire  whose  choral  dances  and  songs  every  pipe  and  tam- 
bourine in  the  country  was  to  be  placed  in  requisition.  Even 
the  old  seneschal,  however,  intimated  his  disapprobation  of  this 
species  oijoyeuse  entree ;  so  that  Ren^  suffered  himself  at  length 
to  be  persuaded  that  the  Queen  was  too  much  occupied  by  the 
religious  impressions  to  which  she  had  been  of  late  exposed  to 
receive  any  agreeable  sensation  from  sights  or  sounds  of  levity. 
The  King  gave  way  to  reasons  which  he  could  not  sympathise 
with ;  and  thus  Margaret  escaped  the  shock  of  welcome,  which 
would  perhaps  have  driven  her  in  her  impatience  back  to  the 
mountain  of  St.  Victoire,  and  the  sable  cavern  of  Lou  Garagoule. 

During  the  time  of  her  absence,  the  days  of  the  court  of 
Provence  were  employed  in  sports  and  rejoicings  of  every  de- 
scription —  tilting  at  the  barrier  with  blunted  spears,  riding  at 
the  ring,  parties  for  hare-hunting  and  falconry,  frequented  by 
the  youth  of  both  sexes,  in  the  company  of  whom  the  King 
delighted,  while  the  evenings  were  consumed  in  dancing  and 
music. 

Arthur  could  not  but  be  sensible  that  not  long  since  all  this 
would  have  made  him  perfectly  happy;  but  the  last  months 
of  his  existence  had  developed  his  understanding  and  passions. 
He  was  now  initiated  in  the  actual  business  of  human  life,  and 
looked  on  its  amusements  with  an  air  of  something  like  con- 
tempt ;  so  that  among  the  young  and  gay  noblesse  who  com- 
posed this  merry  court  he  acquired  the  title  of  the  youthful 
philosopher,  which  was  not  bestowed  upon  him,  it  may  be  sup- 
posed, as  inferring  anything  of  peculiar  compliment. 

On  the  fourth  day  news  were  received,  by  an  express  messen- 
ger, that  Queen  Margaret  would  enter  Aix  before  the  hour  of 
noon,  to  resume  her  residence  in  her  father's  palace.  The  good 
King  Ren^  seemed,  as  it  drew  nigh,  to  fear  the  interview  with 
his  daughter  as  much  as  he  had  previously  desired  it,  and  con- 
trived to  make  all  around  him  partake  of  his  fidgety  anxiety. 
He  tormented  his  steward  and  cooks  to  recollect  what  dishes 


398  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

they  had  ever  observed  her  to  taste  of  with  approbation ;  he 
pressed  the  musicians  to  remember  the  tunes  which  she  ap- 
proved, and  when  one  of  them  boldly  replied  he  had  never 
known  her  Majesty  endure  any  strain  with  patience,  the  old 
monarch  threatened  to  turn  him  out  of  his  service  for  slandering 
the  taste  of  his  daughter.  The  banquet  was  ordered  to  be  served 
at  half-past  eleven,  as  if  accelerating  it  would  have  had  the  least 
effect  upon  hurrying  the  arrival  of  the  expected  guests ;  and  the 
old  king,  with  his  napkin  over  his  arm,  traversed  the  hall  from 
window  to  window,  wearying  every  one  with  questions  whether 
they  saw  anything  of  the  Queen  of  England.  Exactly  as  the 
bells  tolled  noon,  the  Queen,  with  a  very  small  retinue,  chiefly 
English,  and  in  mourning  habits  like  herself,  rode  into  the  town 
of  Aix.  King  Ren^,  at  the  head  of  his  court,  failed  not  to  de- 
scend from  the  front  of  his  stately  palace  and  move  along  the 
street  to  meet  his  daughter.  Lofty,  proud,  and  jealous  of  incur- 
ring ridicule,  Margaret  was  not  pleased  with  this  public  greet- 
ing in  the  market-place.  But  she  was  desirous  at  present  to 
make  amends  for  her  late  petulance,  and  therefore  she  descended 
from  her  palfrey ;  and  although  something  shocked  at  seeing 
Ren^  equipped  with  a  napkin,  she  humbled  herself  to  bend  the 
knee  to  him,  asking  at  once  his  blessing  and  forgiveness. 

'  Thou  hast  —  thou  hast  my  blessing,  my  suffering  dove,'  said 
the  simple  king  to  the  proudest  and  most  impatient  princess 
that  ever  wept  for  a  lost  crown.  '  And  for  thy  pardon,  how 
canst  thou  ask  it,  who  never  didst  me  an  offence  since  God 
made  me  father  to  so  gracious  a  child  ?  Rise  —  I  say  rise ;  nay, 
it  is  for  me  to  ask  thy  pardon.  True,  I  said  in  my  ignorance, 
and  thought  within  myself,  that  my  heart  had  indited  a  goodly 
thing ;  but  it  vexed  thee.  It  is  therefore  for  me  to  crave 
pardon.'  And  down  sunk  good  King  Ren^  upon  both  knees; 
and  the  people,  who  are  usually  captivated  with  anything  re- 
sembling the  trick  of  the  scene,  applauded  with  much  noise, 
and  some  smothered  laughter,  a  situation  in  which  the  royal 
daughter  and  her  parent  seemed  about  to  rehearse  the  scene  of 
the  Roman  Charity. 

Margaret,  sensitively  alive  to  shame,  and  fully  aware  that 
her  present  position  was  sufficiently  ludicrous  in  its  publicity 
at  least,  signed  sharply  to  Arthur,  whom  she  saw  in  the  King's 
suite,  to  come  to  her ;  and,  using  his  arm  to  rise,  she  muttered 
to  him  aside,  and  in  English  — '  To  what  saint  shall  I  vow 
myself  that  I  may  preserve  patience  when  I  so  much  need  itT 

'  For  pity's  sake,  royal  madam,  recall  your  firmness  of  mind 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  399 

and  composure,'  whispered  her  esquire,  who  felt  at  the  moment 
more  embarrassed  than  honoured  by  his  distinguished  office, 
for  he  could  feel  that  the  Queen  actually  trembled  with  vexa- 
tion and  impatience. 

They  at  length  resumed  their  route  to  the  palace,  the  father 
and  daughter  arm  in  arm  — a  posture  most  agreeable  to  Margaret, 
who  could  bring  herself  to  endure  her  father's  effusions  of  ten- 
derness, and  the  general  tone  of  his  conversation,  so  that  he  was 
not  overheard  by  others.  In  the  same  manner,  she  bore  with 
laudable  patience  the  teazing  attentions  which  he  addressed  to 
her  at  table,  noticed  some  of  his  particular  courtiers,  inquired 
after  others,  led  the  way  to  his  favourite  subjects  of  conversa- 
tion on  poetry,  painting,  and  music,  till  the  good  king  was  as 
much  delighted  with  the  unwonted  civilities  of  his  daughter  as 
ever  was  lover  with  the  favourable  confessions  of  his  mistress, 
when,  after  years  of  warm  courtship,  the  ice  of  her  bosom  is 
at  length  thawed.  It  cost  the  haughty  Margaret  an  effort  to 
bend  herself  to  play  this  part.  Her  pride  rebuked  her  for  stoop- 
ing to  flatter  her  father's  foibles  in  order  to  bring  him  over  to 
the  resignation  of  his  dominions ;  yet,  having  undertaken  to  do 
so,  and  so  much  having  been  already  hazarded  upon  this  sole 
remaining  chance  of  success  in  an  attack  upon  England,  she 
saw,  or  was  willing  to  see,  no  alternative. 

Betwixt  the  banquet  and  the  ball  by  which  it  was  to  be 
followed,  the  Queen  sought  an  opportunity  of  speaking  to 
Arthur. 

'Bad  news,  my  sage  counsellor,'  she  said.  'The  Carmelite 
never  returned  to  the  convent  after  the  service  was  over. 
Having  learned  that  you  had  come  back  in  great  haste,  he  had, 
I  suppose,  concluded  he  might  stand  in  suspicion,  so  he  left 
the  convent  of  Mont  St.  Victoire.' 

'We  must  hasten  the  measures  which  your  Majesty  has 
resolved  to  adopt,'  answered  Arthur. 

'I  will  speak  with  my  father  to-morrow.  Meanwhile,  you 
must  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  the  evening,  for  to  you  they  may 
be  pleasures.  Young  lady  of  Boisgelin,  I  give  you  this  cavalier 
to  be  your  partner  for  the  evening.' 

The  black-eyed  and  pretty  Proven^ale  courtesied  with  due 
decorum,  and  glanced  at  the  handsome  young  Englishman  with 
an  eye  of  approbation ;  but,  whether  afraid  of  his  character  as 
a  philosopher  or  his  doubtful  rank,  added  the  saving  clause  — 
'  If  my  mother  approves.' 

'Your  mother,   damsel,  will  scarce,  I  think,  disapprove  of 


400  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

any  partner  whom  you  receive  from  the  hands  of  Margaret  of 
Anjou.  Happy  privilege  of  youth,'  she  added  with  a  sigh,  as 
the  youthful  couple  went  off  to  take  their  place  in  the  hransle^  ^ 
*  which  can  snatch  a  flower  even  on  the  roughest  road  ! ' 

Arthur  acquitted  himself  so  well  during  the  evening,  that 
perhaps  the  young  countess  was  only  sorry  that  so  gay  and 
handsome  a  gallant  limited  his  compliments  and  attentions 
within  the  cold  bounds  of  that  courtesy  enjoined  by  the  rules 
of  ceremony. 

*  Branale,  In  English,  brawl  —  a  species  of  dance. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

For  I  have  given  here  my  full  consent, 
To  undeek  the  pompous  body  of  a  king, 
Make  glory  base,  and  sovereignty  a  slave, 
Proud  Majesty  a  subject,  state  a  peasant. 

Richard  IL 

THE  next  day  opened  a  grave  scene.  King  Ren^  had 
not  forgotten  to  arrange  the  pleasures  of  the  day, 
when,  to  his  horror  and  discomfiture,  Margaret  de- 
manded an  interview  upon  serious  business.  If  there  was  a 
proposition  in  the  world  which  Ren^  from  his  soul  detested,  it 
was  any  that  related  to  the  very  name  of  business. 

'  What  was  it  that  his  child  wanted  ? '  he  said.  *  Was  it 
money?  He  would  give  her  whatever  ready  sums  he  had, 
though  he  owned  his  exchequer  was  somewhat  bare ;  yet  he 
had  received  his  income  for  the  season.  It  was  ten  thousand 
crowns.  How  much  should  he  desire  to  be  paid  to  her  —  the 
half,  three  parts,  or  the  whole  ?    All  was  at  her  command.' 

'  Alas,  my  dear  father,'  said  Margaret,  '  it  is  not  my  affairs, 
but  your  own,  on  which  I  desire  to  speak  with  you.' 

'  If  the  affairs  are  mine,'  said  Ren^,  '  I  am  surely  master  to 
put  them  off  to  another  day  —  to  some  rainy,  dull  day,  fit  for 
no  better  purpose.  See,  my  love,  the  hawking-party  are  all 
on  their  steeds  and  ready,  the  horses  are  neighing  and  paw- 
ing, the  gallants  and  maidens  mounted,  and  ready  with  hawk 
on  fist,  the  spaniels  struggling  in  the  leash.  It  were  a  sin, 
with  wind  and  weather  to  friend,  to  lose  so  lovely  a  morning.' 

'Let  them  ride  their  way,'  said  Queen  Margaret,  'and  find 
their  sport ;  for  the  matter  I  have  to  speak  concerning  involves 
honour  and  rank,  life  and  means  of  living.' 

'Nay,  but  I  have  to  hear  and  judge  between  Calezon  and 
John  of  Acqua  Mortis,  the  two  most  celebrated  troubadours.' 

'Postpone  their  cause  till  to-morrow,'  said  Margaret,  'and 
dedicate  an  hour  or  two  to  more  important  affairs.' 

VOL,  XXIII  —  26 


402  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  If  you  are  peremptory,'  replied  King  Rend,  *you  are  aware, 
*my  child,  I  cannot  say  you  nay.' 

And  with  reluctance  he  gave  orders  for  the  hawkers  to 
go  on  and  follow  their  sport,  as  he  could  not  attend  them 
that  day. 

The  old  king  then  suffered  himself,  like  an  unwilling  grey- 
hound withheld  from  the  chase,  to  be  led  into  a  separate 
apartment.  To  ensure  privacy,  Margaret  stationed  her  secre- 
tary Mordaunt,  with  Arthur,  in  an  ante-chamber,  giving  them 
orders  to  prevent  all  intrusion. 

'  Nay,  for  myself,  Margaret,'  said  the  good-natured  old  man, 
'  since  it  must  be,  I  consent  to  be  put  au  secret ;  but  why  keep 
old  Mordaunt  from  taking  a  walk  in  this  beautiful  morning, 
and  why  prevent  young  Arthur  from  going  forth  with  the  rest  % 
I  promise  you,  though  they  term  him  a  philosopher,  yet  he 
showed  as  light  a  pair  of  heels  last  night,  with  the  young 
Countess  de  Boisgelin,  as  any  gallant  in  Provence.' 

*  They  are  come  from  a  country,'  said  Margaret,  '  in  which 
men  are  trained  from  infancy  to  prefer  their  duty  to  their 
pleasure.' 

The  poor  king,  led  into  the  council-closet,  saw  with  internal 
shuddering  the  fatal  cabinet  of  ebony,  bound  with  silver,  which 
had  never  been  opened  but  to  overwhelm  him  with  weariness, 
and  dolefully  calculated  how  many  yawns  he  must  strangle  ere 
he  sustained  the  consideration  of  its  contents.  They  proved, 
however,  when  laid  before  him,  of  a  kind  that  excited  even  his 
interest,  though  painfully. 

His  daughter  presented  him  with  a  short  and  clear  view  of 
the  debts  which  were  secured  on  his  dominions,  and  for  which 
they  were  mortgaged  in  various  pieces  and  parcels.  She  then 
showed  him,  by  another  schedule,  the  large  claims  of  which 
payment  was  instantly  demanded,  to  discharge  which  no  funds 
could  be  found  or  assigned.  The  King  defended  himself  like 
others  in  his  forlorn  situation.  To  every  claim  of  six,  seven,  or 
eight  thousand  ducats,  he  replied  by  the  assertion  that  he  had 
ten  thousand  crowns  in  his  chancery,  and  showed  some  reluc- 
tance to  be  convinced,  till  repeatedly  urged  upon  him,  that  the 
same  sum  could  not  be  adequate  to  the  discharge  of  thirty 
times  the  amount. 

*  Then,'  said  the  King,  somewhat  impatiently,  '  why  not  pay 
off  those  who  are  most  pressing,  and  let  the  others  wait  till 
receipts  come  round?' 

*It  is  a  practice  which  has  been  too  often  resorted  to,' 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  403 

replied  the  Queen,  'and  it  is  but  a  part  of  honesty  to  pay- 
creditors  who  have  advanced  their  all  in  your  Grace's  service.' 

'But  are  we  not/  said  Rend,  'king  of  both  the  Sicilies, 
Naples,  Arragon,  and  Jerusalem  1  And  why  is  the  monarch  of 
such  fair  kingdoms  to  be  pushed  to  the  wall,  like  a  bankrupt 
yeoman,  for  a  few  bags  of  paltry  crowns  1 ' 

'  You  are  indeed  monarch  of  these  kingdoms,'  said  Margaret ; 
'but  is  it  necessary  to  remind  your  Majesty  that  it  is  but  as  I 
am  Queen  of  England,  in  which  I  have  not  an  acre  of  land,  and 
cannot  command  a  penny  of  revenue  1  You  have  no  dominions 
which  are  a  source  of  revenue,  save  those  which  you  see  in  this 
scroll,  with  an  exact  list  of  the  income  they  afford.  It  is 
totally  inadequate,  you  see,  to  maintain  your  state  and  to  pay 
the  large  engagements  incurred  to  former  creditors.' 

'It  is  cruel  to  press  me  to  the  waU  thus,'  said  the  poor 
king.  '  What  can  1  dol  If  I  am  poor,  I  cannot  help  it.  I 
am  sure  I  would  pay  the  debts  you  talk  of,  if  I  knew  the 
way.' 

'  Royal  father,  I  will  show  it  you.  Resign  your  useless  and 
unavailing  dignity,  which,  with  the  pretensions  attending  it, 
serves  but  to  make  your  miseries  ridiculous.  Resign  your  rights 
as  a  sovereign,  and  the  income  which  cannot  be  stretched  out 
to  the  empty  excesses  of  a  beggarly  court  will  enable  you  to 
enjoy,  in  ease  and  opulence,  all  the  pleasures  you  most  delight 
in  as  a  private  baron.' 

'  Margaret,  you  speak  folly,'  answered  Rend,  somewhat 
sternly.  'A  king  and  his  people  are  bound  by  ties  which 
neither  can  sever  without  guilt.  My  subjects  are  my  flock ;  I 
am  their  shepherd.  They  are  assigned  to  my  governance  by 
Heaven,  and  I  dare  not  renounce  the  charge  of  protecting 
them.' 

'Were  you  in  condition  to  do  so,'  answered  the  Queen, 
'Margaret  would  bid  you  fight  to  the  death.  But  don  your 
harness,  long  disused,  mount  your  war-steed,  cry  "Rend  for 
Provence !  "  and  see  if  a  hundred  men  will  gather  round  your 
standard.  Your  fortresses  are  in  the  hands  of  strangers ;  army 
you  have  none ;  your  vassals  may  have  good-will,  but  they  lack 
aU  military  skill  and  soldierlike  discipline.  You  stand  but  the 
mere  skeleton  of  monarchy,  which  France  or  Burgundy  may 
prostrate  on  the  earth,  whichever  first  puts  forth  his  arm  to 
throw  it  down.' 

The  tears  trickled  fast  down  the  old  king's  cheeks  when 
this  unflattering  prospect  was  set  before  him,  and  he  could  not 


404  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

forbear  owning  his  total  want  of  power  to  defend  himself  and 
his  dominions,  and  admitting  that  he  had  often  thought  of  the 
necessity  of  compounding  for  his  resignation  with  one  of  his 
powerful  neighbours. 

'  It  was  thy  interest,  Margaret,  harsh  and  severe  as  you  are, 
which  prevented  my  entering,  before  now,  into  measures  most 
painful  to  my  feelings,  but  perhaps  best  calculated  for  my 
advantage.  But  I  had  hoped  it  would  hold  on  for  my  day; 
and  thou,  my  child,  with  the  talents  Heaven  has  given  thee, 
wouldst,  I  thought,  have  found  remedy  for  distresses  which  I 
cannot  escape  otherwise  than  by  shunning  the  thoughts  of 
them.' 

*  If  it  is  in  earnest  you  speak  of  my  interest,'  said  Margaret, 
*  know,  that  your  resigning  Provence  will  satisfy  the  nearest, 
and  almost  the  only,  wish  that  my  bosom  can  form;  but,  so 
judge  me  Heaven,  as  it  is  on  your  account,  gracious  sire,  as 
well  as  mine,  that  I  advise  your  compliance.' 

*  Say  no  more  on 't,  child ;  give  me  the  parchment  of  resig- 
nation and  I  wiU  sign  it.  I  see  thou  hast  it  ready  drawn ;  let 
us  sign  it,  and  then  we  will  overtake  the  hawkers.  We  must 
suffer  woe,  but  there  is  little  need  to  sit  down  and  weep 
for  it.' 

'Do  you  not  ask,'  said  Margaret,  surprised  at  his  apathy, 
*to  whom  you  cede  your  dominions?' 

'  What  boots  it,'  answered  the  King,  *  since  they  must  be  no 
more  my  own  ?  It  must  be  either  to  Charles  of  Burgundy  or 
my  nephew  Louis  —  both  powerful  and  politic  princes.  God 
send  my  poor  people  may  have  no  cause  to  wish  their  old  man 
back  again,  whose  only  pleasure  was  to  see  them  happy  and 
mirthful' 

'  It  is  to  Burgundy  you  resign  Provence,'  said  Margaret. 

'I  would  have  preferred  him,'  answered  Ren^  :  'he  is  fierce, 
but  not  malignant.  One  word  more  —  are  my  subjects'  privi- 
leges and  immunities  fully  secured  1 ' 

'Amply,'  replied  the  Queen;  'and  your  own  wants  of  all 
kinds  honourably  provided  for.  I  would  not  leave  the  stipula- 
tions in  your  favour  in  blank,  though  I  might  perhaps  have 
trusted  Charles  of  Burgundy  where  money  alone  is  concerned.' 

'I  ask  not  for  myself;  with  my  viol  and  my  pencil, 
Ren^  the  troubadour  will  be  as  happy  as  ever  was  Ren^ 
the  king.' 

So  saying,  with  practical  philosophy  he  whistled  the  burden 
of  his  last  composed  ariette,  and  signed  away  the  rest  of  his 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  405 

royal  possessions  without  pulling  off  his  glove  or  even  reading 
the  instrument. 

*  What  is  this  *? '  he  said,  looking  at  another  and  separate 
parchment  of  much  briefer  contents.  '  Must  my  kinsman  Charles 
have  both  the  Sicilies,  Catalonia,  Naples,  and  Jerusalem,  as  well 
as  the  poor  remainder  of  Provence  *?  Methinks,  in  decency,  some 
greater  extent  of  parchment  should  have  been  allowed  to  so 
ample  a  cession.' 

'  That  deed,'  said  Margaret,  *  only  disowns  and  relinquishes 
all  countenance  of  Ferrand  de  Vaudemont's  rash  attempt  on 
Lorraine,  and  renounces  all  quarrel  on  that  account  against 
Charles  of  Burgundy.' 

For  once  Margaret  miscalculated  the  tractability  of  her  father's 
temper.  Rend  positively  started,  coloured,  and  stammered  with 
passion,  as  he  interrupted  her  — '  Only  disown  —  only  relinquish 
—  only  renounce  the  cause  of  my  grandchild,  the  son  of  my 
dear  Yolande  —  his  rightful  claims  on  his  mother's  inheritance  ! 
Margaret,  I  am  ashamed  for  thee.  Thy  pride  is  an  excuse 
for  thy  evil  temper ;  but  what  is  pride  worth  which  can  stoop 
to  commit  an  act  of  dishonourable  meanness  1  To  desert,  nay, 
disown,  my  own  flesh  and  blood,  because  the  youth  is  a  bold 
knight  under  shield  and  disposed  to  battle  for  his  right  —  I 
were  worthy  that  harp  and  horn  rung  out  shame  on  me,  should 
I  listen  to  thee.' 

Margaret  was  overcome  in  some  measure  by  the  old  man's 
unexpected  opposition.  She  endeavoured,  however,  to  show 
that  there  was  no  occasion,  in  point  of  honour,  why  Rend 
should  engage  in  the  cause  of  a  wild  adventurer,  whose  right, 
be  it  good,  be  it  bad,  was  only  upheld  by  some  petty  and  under- 
hand supplies  of  money  from  France,  and  the  countenance  of  a 
few  of  the  restless  banditti  who  inhabit  the  borders  of  all  nations. 
But,  ere  Rend  could  answer,  voices,  raised  to  an  unusual  pitch, 
were  heard  in  the  ante-chamber,  the  door  of  which  was  flung 
open  by  an  armed  knight,  covered  with  dust,  who  exhibited  all 
the  marks  of  a  long  journey. 

'Here  I  am,'  he  said,  'father  of  my  mother  —  behold  your 
grandson — Ferrand  de  Vaudemont ;  the  son  of  your  lost  Yolande 
kneels  at  your  feet^  and  implores  a  blessing  on  him  and  his 
enterprise.' 

'  Thou  hast  it,'  replied  Rend,  *  and  may  it  prosper  with  thee, 
gallant  youth,  image  of  thy  sainted  mother  —  my  blessings,  my 
prayers,  my  hopes,  go  with  you  ! ' 

'And  you,  fair  aunt  of  England,'  said  the  young  knight, 


406  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

addressing  Margaret — *  you  who  are  yourself  dispossessed  by 
traitors,  will  you  not  own  the  cause  of  a  kinsman  who  is  strug- 
gling for  his  inheritance  ? ' 

*  I  wish  all  good  to  your  person,  fair  nephew,'  answered  the 
Queen  of  England,  '  although  your  features  are  strange  to  me. 
But  to  advise  this  old  man  to  adopt  your  cause,  when  it  is  des- 
perate in  the  eyes  of  all  wise  men,  were  impious  madness.' 

'  Is  my  cause,  then,  so  desperate  1 '  said  Ferrand ;  *  forgive  me 
if  I  was  not  aware  of  it.  And  does  my  aunt  Margaret  say  this, 
whose  strength  of  mind  supported  Lancaster  so  long,  after  the 
spirits  of  her  warriors  had  been  quelled  by  defeat  ?  What  — 
forgive  me,  for  my  cause  must  be  pleaded  —  what  would  you 
have  said  had  my  mother  Yolande  been  capable  to  advise  her 
father  to  disown  your  own  Edward,  had  God  permitted  him  to 
reach  Provence  in  safety  ? ' 

'Edward,'  said  Margaret,  weeping  as  she  spoke,  'was  in- 
capable of  desiring  his  friends  to  espouse  a  quarrel  that  was 
irremediable.  His,  too,  was  a  cause  for  which  mighty  princes 
and  peers  laid  lance  in  rest.' 

'  Yet  Heaven  blessed  it  not '  said  Vaudemont. 

*  Thine,'  continued  Margaret,  *  is  but  embraced  by  the  robber 
nobles  of  Germany,  the  upstart  burghers  of  the  Khine  cities, 
the  paltry  and  clownish  confederates  of  the  cantons.' 

'But  Heaven  has  blessed  it/  replied  Vaudemont.  'Know, 
proud  woman,  that  I  come  to  interrupt  your  treacherous  in- 
trigues—  no  petty  adventurer,  subsisting  and  maintaining  war- 
fare by  sleight  rather  than  force,  but  a  conqueror  from  a  bloody 
field  of  battle,  in  which  Heaven  has  tamed  the  pride  of  the 
tyrant  of  Burgundy.' 

'  It  is  false ! '  said  the  Queen,  starting.     '  I  believe  it  not.' 

'It  is  true,'  said  De  Vaudemont,  'as  true  as  Heaven  is  above 
us.  It  is  four  days  since  I  left  the  field  of  Granson,  heaped 
with  Burgundy's  mercenaries  ;  his  wealth,  his  jewels,  his  plate, 
his  magnificent  decorations,  the  prize  of  the  poor  Swiss,  who 
scarce  can  tell  their  value.  Know  you  this, -Queen  Margaret  *? ' 
continued  the  young  soldier,  showing  the  well-known  jewel 
which  decorated  the  Duke's  order  of  the  Golden  Fleece ;  '  think 
you  not  the  Hon  was  closely  hunted  when  he  left  such  trophies 
as  these  behind  him  ? ' 

Margaret  looked  with  dazzled  eyes  and  bewildered  thoughts 
upon  a  token  which  confirmed  the  Duke's  defeat,  and  the  ex- 
tinction of  her  last  hopes.  Her  father,  on  the  contrary,  was 
struck  with  the  heroism  of  the  young  warrior  —  a  quality  which, 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  407 

except  as  it  existed  in  his  daughter  Margaret,  had,  he  feared, 
taken  leave  of  his  family.  Admiring  in  his  heart  the  youth 
who  exposed  himself  to  danger  for  the  meed  of  praise  almost 
as  much  as  he  did  the  poets  hy  whom  the  warrior's  fame  is 
rendered  immortal,  he  hugged  his  grandson  to  his  bosom,  bid- 
ding him  'gird  on  his  sword  in  strength,'  and  assuring  him,  if 
money  could  advance  his  affairs,  he.  King  Ren^  could  command 
ten  thousand  crowns,  any  part,  or  the  whole,  of  which  was  at 
Ferrand's  command ;  thus  giving  proof  of  what  had  been  said 
of  him,  that  his  head  was  incapable  of  containing  two  ideas  at 
the  same  time. 

We  return  to  Arthur,  who,  with  the  Queen  of  England's  sec- 
retary, Mordaunt,  had  been  not  a  little  surprised  by  the  entrance 
of  the  Count  de  Vaudemont,  calling  himself  Duke  of  Lorraine, 
into  the  ante-room,  in  which  they  kept  a  kind  of  guard,  followed 
by  a  tall  strong  Swiss,  with  a  huge  halberd  over  his  shoulder. 
The  prince  naming  himself,  Arthur  did  not  think  it  becoming 
to  oppose  his  entrance  to  the  presence  of  his  grandfather  and 
aunt,  especially  as  it  was  obvious  that  his  opposition  must  have 
created  an  affray.  In  the  huge  staring  halberdier,  who  had 
sense  enough  to  remain  in  the  ante-room,  Arthur  was  not  a  little 
surprised  to  recognise  Sigismund  Biederman,  who,  after  staring 
wildly  at  him  for  a  moment,  like  a  dog  which  suddenly  recog- 
nises a  favourite,  rushed  up  to  the  young  Englishman  with  a 
wild  cry  of  gladness,  and  in  hurried  accents  told  him  how  happy 
he  was  to  meet  with  him,  and  that  he  had  matters  of  importance 
to  tell  him.  It  was  at  no  time  easy  for  Sigismund  to  arrange 
his  ideas,  and  now  they  were  altogether  confused  by  the  trium- 
phant joy  which  he  expressed  for  the  recent  victory  of  his  coun- 
trymen over  the  Duke  of  Burgundy ;  and  it  was  with  wonder 
that  Arthur  heard  his  confused  and  rude,  but  faithful,  tale. 

'Look  you.  King  Arthur,  the  Duke  had  come  up  with  his 
huge  army  as  far  as  Granson,  which  is  near  the  outlet  of  the 
great  lake  of  Neufchatel.  There  were  five  or  six  hundred  Con- 
federates in  the  place,  and  they  held  it  tiU  provisions  failed, 
and  then  you  know  they  were  forced  to  give  it  over.  But, 
though  hunger  is  hard  to  bear,  they  had  better  have  borne  it  a 
day  or  two  longer,  for  the  butcher  Charles  hung  them  aU  up 
by  the  neck,  upon  trees  round  the  place;  and  there  was  no 
swallowing  for  them,  you  know,  after  such  usage  as  that. 
Meanwhile,  aU  was  busy  on  our  hiUs,  and  every  man  that  had 
a  sword  or  lance  accoutred  himself  with  it.  We  met  at  Neuf- 
chatel, and  some  Germans  joined  us  with  the  noble  Duke  of 


408  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

Lorraine.  Ah,  King  Arthur,  there  is  a  leader !  we  all  think 
him  second  hut  to  Rudolph  of  Donnerhugel.  You  saw  him 
even  now  —  it  was  he  that  went  into  that  room ;  and  you  saw 
him  before  —  it  is  he  that  was  the  Blue  Knight  of  B4le ;  but  we 
called  him  Laurenz  then,  for  Rudolph  said  his  presence  among 
us  must  not  be  known  to  our  father,  and  I  did  not  know  my- 
self at  that  time  who  he  really  was.  Well,  when  we  came  to 
Neufchatel  we  were  a  goodly  company  :  we  were  fifteen  thou- 
sand stout  Confederates,  and  of  others,  Germans  and  Lorraine 
men,  I  will  warrant  you  five  thousand  more.  We  heard  that 
the  Burgundian  was  sixty  thousand  in  the  field  ;  but  we  heard, 
at  the  same  time,  that  Charles  had  hung  up  our  brethren  like 
dogs,  and  the  man  was  not  among  us  —  among  the  Confederates, 
I  mean  —  who  would  stay  to  count  heads,  when  the  question 
was  to  avenge  them.  I  would  you  could  have  heard  the  roar 
of  fifteen  thousand  Swiss  demanding  to  be  led  against  the 
butcher  of  their  brethren !  My  father  himself,  who,  you  know, 
is  usually  so  eager  for  peace,  now  gave  the  first  voice  for  battle ; 
so,  in  the  grey  of  the  morning,  we  descended  the  lake  towards 
Granson,  with  tears  in  our  eyes  and  weapons  in  our  hands, 
determined  to  have  death  or  vengeance.  We  came  to  a  sort  of 
strait,  between  Vauxmoreux  and  the  lake  ;  there  were  horse  on 
the  level  ground  between  the  mountain  and  the  lake,  and  a 
large  body  of  infantry  on  the  side  of  the  hill.  The  Duke  of 
Lorraine  and  his  followers  engaged  the  horse,  while  we  climbed 
the  hill  to  dispossess  the  infantry.  It  was  with  us  the  affair 
of  a  moment.  Every  man  of  us  was  at  home  among  the  crags, 
and  Charles's  men  were  stuck  among  them  as  thou  wert,  Arthur, 
when  thou  didst  first  come  to  Geierstein.  But  there  were  no 
kind  maidens  to  lend  them  their  hands  to  help  them  down. 
No  —  no,  there  were  pikes,  clubs,  and  halberds,  many  a  one, 
to  dash  and  thrust  them  from  places  where  they  could  hardly 
keep  their  feet  had  there  been  no  one  to  disturb  them.  So  the 
horsemen,  pushed  by  the  Lorrainers,  and  seeing  us  upon  their 
flanks,  fled  as  fast  as  their  horses  could  carry  them.  Then  we 
drew  together  again  on  a  fair  field,  which  is  hium  campagna^  as 
the  Italian  says,  where  the  hills  retire  from  the  lake.  But  lo 
you,  we  had  scarce  arrayed  our  ranks,  when  we  heard  such  a 
din  and  clash  of  instruments,  such  a  trample  of  their  great 
horses,  such  a  shouting  and  crying  of  men,  as  if  all  the  soldiers, 
and  all  the  minstrels,  in  France  and  Germany,  were  striving 
which  should  make  the  loudest  noise.  Then  there  was  a  huge 
cloud  of  dust  approaching  us,  and  we  began  to  see  we  must  do 


ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN  409 

or  die,  for  this  was  Charles  and  his  whole  army  come  to  sup- 
port his  vanguard.  A  blast  from  the  mountain  dispersed  the 
dust,  for  they  had  halted  to  prepare  for  battle.  Oh,  good 
Arthur,  you  would  have  given  ten  years  of  life  but  to  have 
seen  the  sight !  There  were  thousands  of  horse  all  in  complete 
array,  glancing  against  the  sun,  and  hundreds  of  knights  with 
crowns  of  gold  and  silver  on  their  helmets,  and  thick  masses  of 
spears  on  foot,  and  cannon,  as  they  call  them.  I  did  not  know 
what  things  they  were  which  they  drew  on  heavily  with  bul- 
locks and  placed  before  their  army,  but  I  knew  more  of  them 
before  the  morning  was  over.  Well,  we  were  ordered  to  draw 
up  in  a  hollow  square,  as  we  are  taught  at  exercise,  and  before 
we  pushed  forwards,  we  were  commanded,  as  is  the  godly  rule 
and  guise  of  our  warfare,  to  kneel  down  and  pray  to  God,  Our 
Lady,  and  the  blessed  saints ;  and  we  afterwards  learned  that 
Charles,  in  his  arrogance,  thought  we  asked  for  mercy.  Ha! 
ha  !  ha !  a  proper  jest.  If  my  father  once  knelt  to  him,  it  was 
for  the  sake  of  Christian  blood  and  godly  peace ;  but  on  the 
field  of  battle,  Arnold  Biederman  would  not  have  knelt  to  him 
and  his  whole  chivalry,  though  he  had  stood  alone  with  his 
sons  on  that  field.  Well,  but  Charles,  supposing  we  asked 
grace,  was  determined  to  show  us  that  we  had  asked  it  at  a 
graceless  face,  for  he  cried,  "Fire  my  cannon  on  the  coward 
slaves ;  it  is  all  the  mercy  they  have  to  expect  from  me !  " 
Bang  —  bang  —  bang  —  off  went  the  things  I  told  you  of,  like 
thunder  and  lightning ;  and  some  mischief  they  did,  but  the 
less  that  we  were  kneeling,  and  the  saints  doubtless  gave  the 
huge  balls  a  hoist  over  the  heads  of  those  who  were  asking 
grace  from  them,  but  from  no  mortal  creatures.  So  we  had 
the  signal  to  rise  and  rush  on,  and  I  promise  you  there  were 
no  sluggards.  Every  man  felt  ten  men's  strength.  My  hal- 
berd is  no  child's  toy  —  if  you  have  forgotten  it,  there  it  is  — 
and  yet  it  trembled  in  my  grasp  as  if  it  had  been  a  willow 
wand  to  drive  cows  with.  On  we  went,  when  suddenly  the 
cannon  were  silent,  and  the  earth  shook  with  another  and  con- 
tinued growl  and  battering,  like  thunder  under  ground.  It 
was  the  men-at-arms  rushing  to  charge  us.  But  our  leaders 
knew  their  trade,  and  had  seen  such  a  sight  before;  it  was, 
"Halt,  halt  —  kneel  down  in  the  front  —  stoop  in  the  second 
rank  —  close  shoulder  to  shoulder  like  brethren  —  lean  all 
spears  forward  and  receive  them  like  an  iron  wall !  "  On  they 
rushed,  and  there  was  a  rending  of  lances  that  would  have 
served  the  Unterwalden  old  women  with  splinters  of  firewood 


410  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

for  a  twelvemonth.  Down  went  armed  horse  —  down  went 
accoutred  knight — down  went  banner  and  bannerman  —  down 
went  peaked  boot  and  crowned  helmet,  and  of  those  who  fell 
not  a  man  escaped  with  life.  So  they  drew  off  in  confusion,  and 
were  getting  in  order  to  charge  again,  when  the  noble  Duke  Fer- 
rand  and  Ins  horsemen  dashed  at  them  in  their  own  way,  and 
we  moved  onward  to  support  him.  Thus  on  we  pressed,  and 
the  foot  hardly  waited  for  us,  seeing  their  cavalry  so  handled. 
Then  if  you  had  seen  the  dust  and  heard  the  blows  !  The  noise 
of  a  hundred  thousand  thrashers,  the  flight  of  the  chaff  which 
they  drive  about,  would  be  but  a  type  of  it.  On  my  word,  I 
almost  thought  it  shame  to  dash  about  my  halberd,  the  rout 
was  so  helplessly  piteous.  Hundreds  were  slain  unresisting, 
and  the  whole  army  was  in  complete  flight.' 

'  My  father  —  my  father ! '  exclaimed  Arthur ;  *  in  such  a  rout, 
what  can  have  become  of  him  ? ' 

*  He  escaped  safely,'  said  the  Swiss  —  'fled  with  Charles.' 

'  It  must  have  been  a  bloody  field  ere  he  fled,'  replied  the 
Englishman. 

'  Nay,'  answered  Sigismund,  'he  took  no  part  in  the  fight, 
but  merely  remained  by  Charles;  and  prisoners  said  it  was 
well  for  us,  for  that  he  is  a  man  of  great  counsel  and  action  in 
the  wars.  And  as  to  flying,  a  man  in  such  a  matter  must  go 
back  if  he  cannot  press  forward,  and  there  is  no  shame  in  it, 
especially  if  you  be  not  engaged  in  your  own  person.' 

As  he  spoke  thus,  their  conversation  was  interrupted  by 
Mordaunt,  with  'Hush  —  hush,  the  King  and  Queen  come 
forth.' 

'  What  am  I  to  do  ? '  said  Sigismund,  in  some  alarm.  *  I 
care  not  for  the  Duke  of  Lorraine ;  but  what  am  I  to  do  when 
kings  and  queens  enter  1 ' 

'  Do  nothing  but  rise,  unbonnet  yourself,  and  be  silent.' 

Sigismund  did  as  he  was  directed. 

King  Ren^  came  forth  arm  in  arm  with  his  grandson ;  and 
Margaret  followed,  with  deep  disappointment  and  vexation  on 
her  brow.  She  signed  to  Arthur  as  she  passed,  and  said  to 
him  —  '  Make  thyself  master  of  the  truth  of  this  most  unex- 
pected news,  and  bring  the  particulars  to  me.  Mordaunt  will 
introduce  thee.' 

She  then  cast  a  look  on  the  young  Swiss,  and  replied 
courteously  to  his  awkward  salutation.  The  royal  party  then 
left  the  room,  Ren^  bent  on  carrying  his  grandson  to  the 
sporting-party,  which  had  been  interrupted,  and  Margaret  to 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  411 

seek  the  solitude  of  her  private  apartment,  and  await  the 
confirmation  of  what  she  regarded  as  evil  tidings. 

They  were  no  sooner  passed,  than  Sigismund  observed  — 
*  And  so  that  is  a  king  and  queen !  Peste !  the  King  looks 
somewhat  like  old  Jacomo,  the  violer,  that  used  to  scrape  on 
the  fiddle  to  us  when  he  came  to  Geierstein  in  his  rounds.  But 
the  Queen  is  a  stately  creature.  The  chief  cow  of  the  herd, 
who  carries  the  bouquets  and  garlands,  and  leads  the  rest  to 
the  chalet,  has  not  a  statelier  pace.  And  how  deftly  you 
approached  her  and  spoke  to  her!  I  could  not  have  done 
it  with  so  much  grace.  But  it  is  like  that  you  have  served 
apprentice  to  the  court  trade?' 

'Leave  that  for  the  present,  good  Sigismund,'  answered 
Arthur,  'and  tell  me  more  of  this  battle.' 

'  By  St.  Mary,  but  I  must  have  some  victuals  and  drink  first,' 
said  Sigismund,  'if  your  credit  in  this  fine  place  reaches  so  far.' 

'Doubt  it  not,  Sigismund,'  said  Arthur;  and,  by  the  inter- 
vention of  Mordaunt,  he  easily  procured,  in  a  more  retired  apart- 
ment, a  collation  and  wine,  to  which  the  young  Biederman  did 
great  honour,  smacking  his  lips  with  much  gusto  after  the 
delicious  wines,  to  which,  in  spite  of  his  father's  ascetic  pre- 
cepts, his  palate  was  beginning  to  be  considerably  formed  and 
habituated.  When  he  found  himself  alone  with  a  flask  of  cote 
roti  and  a  biscuit,  and  his  fiiend  Arthur,  he  was  easily  led  to 
continue  his  tale  of  conquest. 

'  Well  —  where  was  1 1  Oh,  where  we  broke  their  infantry  — 
well  —  they  never  rallied,  and  fell  into  greater  confusion  at  every 
step  —  and  we  might  have  slaughtered  one  half  of  them,  had  we 
not  stopt  to  examine  Charles's  camp.  Mercy  on  us,  Arthur, 
what  a  sight  was  there !  Every  pavilion  was  ftdl  of  rich  clothes, 
splendid  armour,  and  great  dishes  and  flagons,  which  some  men 
said  were  of  silver ;  but  I  knew  there  was  not  so  much  silver  in 
the  world,  and  was  sure  they  must  be  of  pewter,  rarely  burnished. 
Here  there  were  hosts  of  laced  lackeys,  and  grooms,  and  pages, 
and  as  many  attendants  as  there  were  soldiers  in  the  army; 
and  thousands,  for  what  I  knew,  of  pretty  maidens.  By  the 
same  token,  both  menials  and  maidens  placed  themselves  at 
the  disposal  of  the  victors ;  but  I  promise  you  that  my  father 
was  right  severe  on  any  who  would  abuse  the  rights  of  war. 
But  some  of  our  young  men  did  not  mind  him,  till  he  taught 
them  obedience  with  the  stafi"  of  his  halberd.  Well,  Arthur, 
there  was  fine  plundering,  for  the  Germans  and  French  that 
were  with  us  rifled  everything,  and  some  of  our  men  followed 


412  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

the  example  —  it  is  very  catching.  So  I  got  into  Charles's  own 
pavilion,  where  Rudolph  and  some  of  his  people  were  trying  to 
keep  out  every  one,  that  he  might  have  the  spoiling  of  it 
himself,  I  think ;  but  neither  he  nor  any  Bernese  of  them  all 
dared  lay  truncheon  over  my  pate ;  so  I  entered,  and  saw  them 
putting  piles  of  pewter- trenchers,  so  clean  as  to  look  like  silver, 
into  chests  and  trunks.  I  pressed  through  them  into  the  inner 
place,  and  there  was  Charles's  pallet-bed  —  I  will  do  him  justice, 
it  was  the  only  hard  one  in  his  camp  —  and  there  were  fine 
sparkling  stones  and  pebbles  lying  about  among  gauntlets, 
boots,  vambraces,  and  such-like  gear.  So  I  thought  of  your 
father  and  you,  and  looked  for  something,  when  what  should  I 
see  but  my  old  friend  here  (here  he  drew  Queen  Margaret's  neck- 
lace from  his  bosom),  which  I  knew,  because  you  remember  I 
recovered  it  from  the  scharfgerichter  at  Brisach.  "  Oho  !  you 
pretty  sparklers,"  said  I,  "  you  shall  be  Burgundian  no  longer, 

but  go  back  to  my  honest  English  friends,"  and  therefore ' 

'It  is  of  immense  value,'  said  Arthur,  'and  belongs  not  to 
my  father  or  to  me,  but  to  the  queen  yoa  saw  but  now.' 

*  And  she  will  become  it  rarely,'  answered  Sigismund.  '  Were 
she  but  a  score,  or  a  score  and  a  half,  years  younger,  she  were 
a  gallant  wife  for  a  Swiss  landholder.  I  would  warrant  her  to 
keep  his  household  in  high  order.' 

*  She  will  reward  thee  liberally  for  recovering  her  property,' 
said  Arthur,  scarce  suppressing  a  smile  at  the  idea  of  the  proud 
Margaret  becoming  the  housewife  of  a  Swiss  shepherd. 

'  How — reward ! '  said  the  Swiss.  '  Bethink  thee  I  am  Sigis- 
mund Biederman,  the  son  of  the  Landamman  of  Unterwalden. 
I  am  not  a  base  lanzknecht,  to  be  paid  for  courtesy  with  piastres. 
Let  her  grant  me  a  kind  word  of  thanks,  or  the  matter  of  a 
kiss,  and  I  am  well  contented.' 

*  A  kiss  of  her  hand,  perhaps,'  said  Arthur,  again  smiling  at 
his  friend's  simplicity. 

'  Umph,  the  hand !  "Well,  it  may  do  for  a  queen  of  some  fifty 
years  and  odd,  but  would  be  poor  homage  to  a  Queen  of  May.' 

Arthur  here  brought  back  the  youth  to  the  subject  of  his 
battle,  and  learned  that  the  slaughter  of  the  Duke's  forces  in 
the  flight  had  been  in  no  degree  equal  to  the  importance  of 
the  action. 

'Many  rode  off  on  horseback,'  said  Sigismund;  *and  our 
German  reiters  flew  on  the  spoil,  when  they  should  have 
followed  the  chase.  And  besides,  to  speak  truth,  Charles's 
camp  delayed  our  very  selves  in  the  pursuit ;  but  had  we  gone 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  413 

half  a  mile  further,  and  seen  our  friends  hanging  on  trees,  not 
a  Confederate  would  have  stopped  from  the  chase  while  he  had 
limbs  to  carry  him  in  pursuit.' 

'  And  what  has  become  of  the  Duke  ? ' 

'  Charles  has  retreated  into  Burgundy,  like  a  boar  who  has 
felt  the  touch  of  the  spear,  and  is  more  enraged  than  hurt; 
but  is,  they  say,  sad  and  sulky.  Others  report  that  he  has 
collected  all  his  scattered  army,  and  immense  forces  besides, 
and  has  screwed  his  subjects  to  give  him  money,  so  that  we 
may  expect  another  brush.  But  all  Switzerland  will  join  us 
after  such  a  victory.' 

'  And  my  father  is  with  him  ? '  said  Arthur. 

'  Truly  he  is,  and  has  in  a  right  godly  manner  tried  to  set 
afoot  a  treaty  of  peace  with  my  own  father.  But  it  will  scarce 
succeed.  Charles  is  as  mad  as  ever ;  and  our  people  are  right 
proud  of  our  victory,  and  so  they  well  may.  Nevertheless,  my 
father  for  ever  preaches  that  such  victories,  and  such  heaps  of 
wealth,  will  change  our  ancient  manners,  and  that  the  plough- 
man will  leave  his  labour  to  turn  soldier.  He  says  much  about 
it;  but  why  money,  choice  meat  and  wine,  and  fine  clothing 
should  do  so  much  harm,  I  cannot  bring  my  poor  brains  to  see. 
And  many  better  heads  than  mine  are  as  much  puzzled.  Here 's 
to  you,  friend  Arthur.     This  is  choice  liquor.' 

'  And  what  brings  you  and  your  general.  Prince  Ferrand,  post 
to  Nancy  1 '  said  the  young  Englishman. 

'Faith,  you  are  yourself  the  cause  of  our  journey.' 

'  I  the  cause  ? '  said  Arthur.     '  Why,  how  could  that  be  1 ' 

*  Why,  it  is  said  you  and  Queen  Margaret  are  urging  this 
old  fiddling  King  Rend  to  yield  up  his  territories  to  Charles, 
and  to  disown  Ferrand  in  his  claim  upon  Lorraine.  And  the 
Duke  of  Lorraine  sent  a  man  that  you  know  well  —  that  is,  you 
do  not  know  Mm,  but  you  know  some  of  his  family,  and  he 
knows  more  of  you  than  you  wot  —  to  put  a  spoke  in  your 
wheel,  and  prevent  your  getting  for  Charles  the  county  of 
Provence,  or  preventing  Ferrand  being  troubled  or  traversed  in 
his  natural  rights  over  Lorraine.' 

*0n  my  word,  Sigismund,  I  cannot  comprehend  you,'  said 
Arthur. 

'Well,'  replied  the  Swiss,  *my  lot  is  a  hard  one.  All  our 
house  say  that  I  can  comprehend  nothing,  and  I  shall  be  next 
told  that  nobody  can  comprehend  me.  Well,  in  plain  language, 
I  mean  my  uncle,  Count  Albert,  as  he  calls  himself,  of  Geier- 
stein  —  my  father's  brother,' 


414  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  Anne  of  Geierstein's  father ! '  echoed  Arthur. 

*  Ay,  truly ;  I  thought  we  should  find  some  mark  to  make  you 
know  him  by.' 

'But  I  never  saw  him.' 

*  Ay,  but  you  have  though.  An  able  man  he  is,  and  knows 
more  of  every  man's  business  than  the  man  does  himself 
Oh  !  it  was  not  for  nothing  that  he  married  the  daughter  of  a 
salamander ! ' 

'  Pshaw,  Sigismund,  how  can  you  believe  that  nonsense  ? ' 
answered  Arthur. 

'Rudolph  told  me  you  were  as  much  bewildered  as  I  was 
that  night  at  Graffslust,'  answered  the  Swiss. 

'  If  I  were  so,  I  was  the  greater  ass  for  my  pains,'  answered 
Arthur. 

'  Well,  but  this  uncle  of  mine  has  got  some  of  the  old  con- 
juring books  from  the  library  at  Arnheim,  and  they  say  he  can 
pass  from  place  to  place  with  more  than  mortal  speed;  and 
that  he  is  helped  in  his  designs  by  mightier  counsellors  than 
mere  men.  Always,  however,  though  so  ably  and  highly 
endowed,  his  giffcs,  whether  coming  from  a  lawful  or  unlawful 
quarter,  bring  him  no  abiding  advantage.  He  is  eternally 
plunged  into  strife  and  danger.' 

'  I  know  few  particulars  of  his  life,'  said  Arthur,  disguising 
as  much  as  he  could  his  anxiety  to  hear  more  of  him ;  '  but  I 
have  heard  that  he  left  Switzerland  to  join  the  Emperor.' 

'True,'  answered  the  young  Swiss,  'and  married  the  young 
Baroness  of  Arnheim ;  but  afterwards  he  incurred  my  name- 
sake's imperial  displeasure,  and  not  less  that  of  the  Duke  of 
Austria.  They  say  you  cannot  live  in  Rome  and  strive  with 
the  Pope ;  so  my  uncle  thought  it  best  to  cross  the  Rhine,  and 
betake  himself  to  Charles's  court,  who  willingly  received  noble- 
men from  all  countries,  so  that  they  had  good  sounding  names, 
with  the  title  of  count,  marquis,  baron,  or  such-like,  to  march 
in  front  of  them.  So  my  uncle  was  most  kindly  received ;  but 
within  this  year  or  two  all  this  friendship  has  been  broken  up. 
Uncle  Albert  obtained  a  great  lead  in  some  mysterious  socie- 
ties, of  which  Charles  disapproved,  and  set  so  hard  at  my  poor 
uncle,  that  he  was  fain  to  take  orders  and  shave  his  hair,  rather 
than  lose  his  head.  But,  though  he  cut  off  his  hair,  his  brain 
remains  as  busy  as  ever ;  and  although  the  Duke  suffered  him 
to  be  at  large,  yet  he  found  him  so  often  in  his  way,  that  all 
men  believed  he  waited  but  an  excuse  for  seizing  upon  him  and 
putting  him  to  death.     But  my  uncle  persists  that  he  fears  not 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  415 

Charles ;  and  that,  duke  as  he  is,  Charles  has  more  occasion  to 
be  afraid  of  him.  And  so  you  saw  how  boldly  he  played  his 
part  at  La  Ferette.' 

'By  St.  George  of  Windsor,'  exclaimed  Arthur,  'the  black 
priest  of  St.  Paul's  ! ' 

'Oh  ho !  you  understand  me  now.  Well,  he  took  it  upon 
him  that  Charles  would  not  dare  to  punish  him  for  his  share  in 
De  Hagenbach's  death;  and  no  more  did  he,  although  uncle 
Albert  sat  and  voted  in  the  Estates  of  Burgundy,  and  stirred 
them  up  all  he  could  to  refuse  giving  Charles  the  money  he 
asked  of  them.  But  when  the  Swiss  war  broke  out,  uncle 
Albert  became  assured  his  being  a  clergyman  would  be  no 
longer  his  protection,  and  that  the  Duke  intended  to  have  him 
accused  of  corresponding  with  his  brother  and  countrymen; 
and  so  he  appeared  suddenly  in  Ferrand's  camp  at  Neufchatel, 
and  sent  a  message  to  Charles  that  he  renounced  his  alle- 
giance, and  bid  him  defiance.' 

'  A  singular  story  of  an  active  and  versatile  man,'  said  the 
young  Englishman. 

'  Oh,  you  may  seek  the  world  for  a  man  like  uncle  Albert. 
Then  he  knows  everything ;  and  he  told  Duke  Ferrand  what 
you  were  about  here,  and  offered  to  go  and  bring  more  certain 
information ;  ay,  though  he  left  the  Swiss  camp  but  five  or  six 
days  before  the  battle,  and  the  distance  between  Aries  and 
Neufchatel  be  four  hundred  miles  complete,  yet  he  met  him  on 
his  return,  when  Duke  Ferrand,  with  me  to  show  him  the  way, 
was  hastening  hitherward,  having  set  off  firom  the  very  field  of 
battle.' 

'Met  him!'  said  Arthur.  'Met  whom?  Met  the  black 
priest  of  St.  Paul's  ? ' 

'Ay,  I  mean  so,'  replied  Sigismund;  'but  he  was  habited  as 
a  Carmelite  monk.' 

'  A  Carmelite  1 '  said  Arthur,  a  sudden  light  flashing  on  him ; 
'  and  I  was  so  blind  as  to  recommend  his  services  to  the  Queen ! 
I  remember  well  that  he  kept  his  face  much  concealed  in  his 
cowl ;  and  I,  foolish  beast,  to  fall  so  grossly  into  the  snare ! 
And  yet  perhaps  it  is  as  well  the  transaction  was  interrupted, 
since  I  fear,  if  carried  successfully  through,  all  must  have  been 
disconcerted  by  this  astounding  defeat.' 

Their  conversation  had  thus  far  proceeded,  when  Mordaunt, 
appearing,  summoned  Arthur  to  his  royal  mistress's  apartment. 
In  that  gay  palace,  a  gloomy  room,  whose  windows  looked  upon 
some  part  of  the  ruins  of  the  Roman  edifice,  but  excluded  every 


416  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

other  object,  save  broken  walls  and  tottering  columns,  was  the 
retreat  which  Margaret  had  chosen  for  her  own.  She  received 
Arthur  with  a  kindness  more  touching  that  it  was  the  inmate 
of  so  proud,  and  fiery  a  disposition  —  of  a  heart  assailed  with 
many  woes,  and  feeling  them  severely. 

*  Alas,  poor  Arthur ! '  she  said,  *  thy  life  begins  where  thy 
father's  threatens  to  end,  in  useless  labour  to  save  a  sinking 
vessel.  The  rushing  leak  pours  in  its  waters  faster  than 
human  force  can  lighten  or  discharge.  All  — all  goes  wrong 
when  our  unhappy  cause  becomes  connected  with  it.  Strength 
becomes  weakness,  wisdom  folly,  and  valour  cowardice.  The 
Duke  of  Burgundy,  hitherto  victorious  in  all  his  bold  under- 
takings, has  but  to  entertain  the  momentary  thought  of  yield- 
ing succour  to  Lancaster,  and  behold  his  sword  is  broken  by 
a  peasant's  flail;  and  his  disciplined  army,  held  to  be  the 
finest  in  the  world,  flies  like  chaff  before  the  wind ;  while  their 
spoils  are  divided  by  renegade  German  hirelings  and  barbar- 
ous Alpine  shepherds !  What  more  hast  thou  learned  of  this 
strange  tale?' 

'Little,  madam,  but  what  you  have  heard.  The  worst 
additions  are,  that  the  battle  was  shamefully  cowardlike,  and 
completely  lost,  with  every  advantage  to  have  won  it;  the 
best,  that  the  Burgundian  army  has  been  rather  dispersed  than 
destroyed,  and  that  the  Duke  himself  has  escaped,  and  is  rally- 
ing his  forces  in  Upper  Burgundy.' 

'To  sustain  a  new  defeat,  or  engage  in  a  protracted  and 
doubtful  contest,  fatal  to  his  reputation  as  defeat  itself. 
Where  is  thy  father?' 

'With  the  Duke,  madam,  as  I  have  been  informed,'  replied 
Arthur. 

'Hie  to  him,  and  say  I  charge  him  to  look  after  his  own 
safety,  and  care  no  farther  for  my  interests.  This  last  blow 
has  sunk  me  :  I  am  without  an  ally,  without  a  friend,  without 
treasure ' 

'Not  so,  madam,'  replied  Arthur.  'One  piece  of  good 
fortune  has  brought  back  to  your  Grace  this  inestimable  relic 
of  your  fortunes.'  And  producing  the  precious  necklace,  he 
gave  the  history  of  its  recovery. 

'  I  rejoice  at  the  chance  which  has  restored  these  diamonds,' 
said  the  Queen,  '  that  in  point  of  gratitude,  at  least,  I  may  not 
be  utterly  bankrupt.  Carry  them  to  your  father ;  tell  him  my 
schemes  are  over,  and  my  neart,  which  so  long  clung  to  hope, 
is  broken  at  last.     Tell  him  the  trinkets  are  his  own,  and  to 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  417 

his  own  use  let  him  apply  them.  They  will  but  poorly  repay 
the  noble  earldom  of  Oxford,  lost  in  the  cause  of  her  who  sends 
them.' 

'Royal  madam,'  said  the  youth,  *be  assured  my  father  would 
sooner  live  by  service  as  a  schwarzreiter  than  become  a  burden 
on  your  misfortunes.' 

'  He  never  yet  disobeyed  command  of  mine,'  said  Margaret ; 
*  and  this  is  the  last  I  will  lay  upon  him.  If  he  is  too  rich  or 
too  proud  to  benefit  by  his  queen's  behest,  he  will  find  enough 
of  poor  Lancastrians  who  have  fewer  means  or  fewer  scruples.' 

*  There  is  yet  a  circumstance  I  have  to  communicate,'  said 
Arthur,  and  recounted  the  history  of  Albert  of  Geierstein,  and 
the  disguise  of  a  Carmelite  monk. 

*  Are  you  such  a  fool,'  answered  the  Queen,  *  as  to  suppose 
this  man  has  any  supernatural  powers  to  aid  him  in  his  am- 
bitious projects  and  his  hasty  journeys  ? ' 

'  No,  madam ;  but  it  is  whispered  that  the  Count  Albert  of 
Geierstein,  or  this  black  priest  of  St.  Paul's,  is  a  chief  amongst 
the  secret  societies  of  Germany,  which  even  princes  dread  whilst 
they  hate  them ;  for  the  man  that  can  command  a  hundred 
daggers  must  be  feared  even  by  those  who  rule  thousands  of 
swords.' 

'Can  this  person,'  said  the  Queen,  'being  now  a  churchman, 
retain  authority  amongst  those  who  deal  in  life  and  death  ?  It 
is  contrary  to  the  canons.' 

'  It  would  seem  so,  royal  madam ;  but  everything  in  these 
dark  institutions  differs  fi:om  what  is  practised  in  the  light  of 
day.  Prelates  are  often  heads  of  a  Vehmique  bench,  and  the 
Archbishop  of  Cologne  exercises  the  dreadful  office  of  their 
chie^  as  Duke  of  Westphalia,  the  principal  region  in  which 
these  societies  flourish.^  Such  privileges  attach  to  the  secret 
influence  of  the  chiefs  of  this  dark  association  as  may  well 
seem  supernatural  to  those  who  are  unapprised  of  circum- 
stances of  which  men  shun  to  speak  in  plain  terms.' 

'Let  him  be  wizard  or  assassin,'  said  the  Queen,  'I  thank 
him  for  having  contributed  to  interrupt  my  plan  of  the  old 
man's  cession  of  Provence,  which,  as  events  stand,  would  have 
stripped  Ren^  of  his  dominions,  without  furthering  our  plan  of 
invading  England.  Once  more,  be  stirring  with  the  dawn,  and 
bend  thy  way  back  to  thy  father,  and  charge  him  to  care  for 
himself  and  think  no  more  of  me.  Bretagne,  where  the  heir 
of  Lancaster  resides,  will  be  the  safest  place  of  refuge  for  its 

1  See  Head  of  the  Vehmic  Tribunals.    Note  9. 
VOL.  XXIII— 27 


418  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

bravest  followers.  Along  the  Rhine,  the  Invisible  Tribunal,  it 
would  seem,  haunts  both  shores,  and  to  be  innocent  of  ill  is  no 
security ;  even  here  the  proposed  treaty  with  Burgundy  may 
take  air,  and  the  Provengaux  carry  daggers  as  well  as  crooks 
and  pipes.  But  I  hear  the  horses  fast  returning  from  the 
hawking-party,  and  the  silly  old  man,  forgetting  all  the  event- 
ful proceedings  of  the  day,  whistling  as  he  ascends  the  steps. 
"Well,  we  will  soon  part,  and  my  removal  will  be,  I  think,  a  relief 
to  him.  Prepare  for  banquet  and  ball,  for  noise  and  nonsense 
—  above  all,  to  bid  adieu  to  Aix  with  morning  dawn.' 

Thus  dismissed  from  the  Queen's  presence,  Arthur's  first 
care  was  to  summon  Thiebault  to  have  all  things  in  readiness 
for  his  departure  ;  his  next  to  prepare  himself  for  the  pleasures 
of  the  evening,  not  perhaps  so  heavily  affected  by  the  failure 
of  his  negotiation  as  to  be  incapable  of  consolation  in  such  a 
scene;  for  the  truth  was,  that  his  mind  secretly  revolted  at 
the  thoughts  of  the  simple  old  king  being  despoiled  of  his 
dominions  to  fiirther  an  invasion  of  England,  in  which,  what- 
ever interest  he  might  have  in  his  daughter's  rights,  there  was 
little  chance  of  success. 

If  such  feelings  were  censurable,  they  had  their  punishment. 
Although  few  knew  how  completely  the  arrival  of  the  Duke  of 
Lorraine,  and  the  intelligence  he  brought  with  him,  had  dis- 
concerted the  plans  of  Queen  Margaret,  it  was  well  known  there 
had  been  little  love  betwixt  the  Queen  and  his  mother  Yolande ; 
and  the  young  prince  found  himself  at  the  head  of  a  numerous 
party  in  the  court  of  his  grandfather,  who  disliked  his  aunt's 
naughty  manners,  and  were  wearied  by  the  unceasing  melan- 
choly of  her  looks  and  conversation,  and  her  undisguised  con- 
tempt of  the  frivolities  which  passed  around  her.  Ferrand, 
besides,  was  young,  handsome,  a  victor  just  arrived  from  a 
field  of  battle,  fought  gloriously,  and  gained  against  all  chances 
to  the  contrary.  That  he  was  a  general  favourite,  and  excluded 
Arthur  Philipson,  as  an  adherent  of  the  unpopular  Queen,  from 
the  notice  her  influence  had  on  a  former  evening  procured  him, 
was  only  a  natural  consequence  of  their  relative  condition. 
But  what  somewhat  hurt  Arthur's  feelings  was  to  see  his  friend 
Sigismundthe  Simple,  as  his  brethren  called  him,  shining  with 
the  reflected  glory  of  the  Duke  Ferrand  of  Lorraine,  who  intro- 
duced to  all  the  ladies  present  the  gallant  young  Swiss  as 
Count  Sigismund  of  Geierstein.  His  care  had  procured  for  his 
follower  a  dress  rather  more  suitable  for  such  a  scene  than  the 
country  attire  of  the  count,  otherwise  Sigismund  Biederman, 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSl^IN  419 

For  a  certain  time,  whatever  of  novelty  is  introduced  into 
society  is  pleasing,  though  it  has  nothing  else  to  recommend 
it.  The  Swiss  were  little  known  personally  out  of  their  own 
country,  but  they  were  much  talked  of ;  it  was  a  recommenda- 
tion to  be  of  that  country.  Sigismund's  manners  were  blunt 
—  a  mixture  of  awkwardness  and  rudeness,  which  was  termed 
frankness  during  the  moment  of  his  favour.  He  spoke  bad 
French  and  worse  Italian  ;  it  gave  naivete  to  all  he  said.  His 
limbs  were  too  bulky  to  be  elegant ;  his  dancing,  for  Count 
Sigismund  failed  not  to  dance,  was  the  bounding  and  gam- 
bolling of  a  young  elephant;  yet  they  were  preferred  to  the 
handsome  proportions  and  courtly  movements  of  the  youth- 
ful Englishman,  even  by  the  black-eyed  countess,  in  whose 
good  graces  Arthur  had  made  some  progress  on  the  preceding 
evening.  Arthur,  thus  thrown  into  the  shade,  felt  as  Mr. 
Pepys  afterwards  did  when  he  tore  his  camlet  cloak :  the 
damage  was  not  great,  but  it  troubled  him. 

Nevertheless,  the  passing  evening  brought  him  some  re- 
venge. There  are  some  works  of  art  the  defects  of  which  are 
not  seen  till  they  are  injudiciously  placed  in  too  strong  a  light, 
and  such  was  the  case  with  Sigismund  the  Simple.  The  quick- 
witted though  fantastic  Proven9aux  soon  found  out  the  heavi- 
ness of  his  intellect  and  the  extent  of  his  good-nature,  and 
amused  themselves  at  his  expense  by  ironical  compliments  and 
well- veiled  raillery.  It  is  probable  they  would  have  been  less 
delicate  on  the  subject  had  not  the  Swiss  brought  into  the 
dancing-room  along  with  him  his  eternal  halberd,  the  size,  and 
weight,  and  thickness  of  which  boded  little  good  to  any  one 
whom  the  owner  might  detect  in  the  act  of  making  merry 
at  his  expense.  But  Sigismund  did  no  further  mischief  that 
night,  except  that,  in  achieving  a  superb  entrechat,  he  alighted 
with  his  whole  weight  on  the  miniature  foot  of  his  pretty 
partner,  which  he  wellnigh  crushed  to  pieces. 

Arthur  had  hitherto  avoided  looking  towards  Queen  Mar- 
garet during  the  course  of  the  evening,  lest  he  should  disturb 
her  thoughts  from  the  channel  in  which  they  were  rolling,  by 
seeming  to  lay  a  claim  on  her  protection.  But  there  was 
something  so  whimsical  in  the  awkward  physiognomy  of  the 
maladroit  Swiss,  that  he  could  not  help  glancing  an  eye  to  the 
alcove  where  the  Queen's  chair  of  state  was  placed,  to  see  if 
she  observed  him.  The  very  first  view  was  such  as  to  rivet 
his  attention.  Margaret's  head  was  reclined  on  the  chair, 
her  eyes  scarcely  open,  her  features  drawn  up  and  pinched, 


420  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

her  hands  closed  with  effort.  The  English  lady  of  honour 
who  stood  behind  her,  old,  dea^  and  dim-sighted,  had  not  dis- 
covered anything  in  her  mistress's  position  more  than  the  ab- 
stracted and  indifferent  attitude  with  which  the  Queen  was 
wont  to  be  present  in  body  and  absent  in  mind  during  the 
festivities  of  the  Provengal  court.  But  when  Arthur,  greatly 
alarmed,  came  behind  the  seat  to  press  her  attention  to  her 
mistress,  she  exclaimed,  after  a  minute's  investigation,  '  Mother 
of  Heaven,  the  Queen  is  dead  ! '  And  it  was  so.  It  seemed 
that  the  last  fibre  of  life  in  that  fiery  and  ambitious  mind  had, 
as  she  herself  prophesied,  given  way  at  the  same  time  with 
the  last  thread  of  political  hope. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

Toll,  toll  the  bell ! 

Greatness  is  o'er, 

The  heart  has  broke. 

To  ache  no  more  ; 
An  unsubstantial  pageant  all ! 
Drop  o'er  the  scene  the  funeral  pall. 

Old  Poem, 

THE  commotion  and  shrieks  of  fear  and  amazement  which 
were  excited  among  the  ladies  of  the  court  by  an  event 
so  singular  and  shocking  had  begun  to  abate,  and  the 
sighs,  more  serious  though  less  intrusive,  of  the  few  English 
attendants  of  the  deceased  queen  began  to  be  heard,  together 
with  the  groans  of  old  King  Ren^,  whose  emotions  were  as  acute 
as  they  were  short-lived.  The  leeches  had  held  a  busy  but 
unavailing  consultation,  and  the  body  that  was  once  a  queen's 
was  delivered  to  the  priest  of  St.  Sauveur,  that  beautiful  church 
in  which  the  spoils  of  pagan  temples  have  contributed  to  fill 
up  the  magnificence  of  the  Christian  edifice.  The  stately  pile 
was  duly  lighted  up,  and  the  funeral  provided  with  such  splen- 
dour as  Aix  could  supply.  The  Queen's  papers  being  examined, 
it  was  found  that  Margaret,  by  disposing  of  jewels  and  living 
at  small  expense,  had  realised  the  means  of  making  a  decent 
provision  for  life  for  her  very  few  English  attendants.  Her 
diamond  necklace,  described  in  her  last  will  as  in  the  hands  of 
an  English  merchant  named  John  Philipson,  or  his  son,  or  the 
price  thereof,  if  by  them  sold  or  pledged,  she  left  to  the  said 
John  Philipson  and  his  son  Arthur  Philipson,  with  a  view  to 
the  prosecution  of  the  design  which  they  had  been  destined  to 
advance,  or,  if  that  should  prove  impossible,  to  their  own  use 
and  profit.  The  charge  of  her  funeral  rites  was  wholly  en- 
trusted to  Arthur,  called  Philipson,  with  a  request  that  they 
should  be  conducted  entirely  after  the  forms  observed  in  Eng- 
land. This  trust  was  expressed  in  an  addition  to  her  will, 
signed  the  very  day  on  which  she  died. 


422  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

Arthur  lost  no  time  in  despatching  Thiebault  express  to  his 
father  with  a  letter,  explaining,  in  such  terms  as  he  knew  would 
be  understood,  the  tenor  of  all  that  had  happened  since  he  came 
to  Aix,  and  above  all,  the  death  of  Queen  Margaret. 

Finally,  he  requested  directions  for  his  motions,  since  the 
necessary  delay  occupied  by  the  obsequies  of  a  person  of  such 
eminent  rank  must  detain  him  at  Aix  till  he  should  receive 
them. 

The  old  king  sustained  the  shock  of  his  daughter's  death  so 
easily,  that  on  the  second  day  after  the  event  he  was  engaged 
in  arranging  a  pompous  procession  for  the  funeral,  and  com- 
posing an  elegy,  to  be  sung  to  a  tune  also  of  his  own  compos- 
ing, in  honour  of  the  deceased  queen,  who  was  likened  to  the 
goddesses  of  heathen  mythology,  and  to  Judith,  Deborah,  and 
all  the  other  holy  women,  not  to  mention  the  saints  of  the 
Christian  dispensation.  It  cannot  be  concealed  that,  when  the 
first  burst  of  grief  was  over.  King  Ren^  could  not  help  feeling 
that  Margaret's  death  cut  a  political  knot  which  he  might  have 
otherwise  found  it  difficult  to  untie,  and  permitted  him  to  take 
open  part  with  his  grandson,  so  far  indeed  as  to  afford  him  a 
considerable  share  of  the  contents  of  the  Provencal  treasury, 
which  amounted  to  no  larger  sum  than  ten  thousand  crowns. 
Ferrand,  having  received  the  blessing  of  his  grandfather  in  a 
form  which  his  affairs  rendered  most  important  to  him,  returned 
to  the  resolutes  whom  he  commanded ;  and  with  him,  after 
a  most  loving  farewell  to  Arthur,  went  the  stout  but  simple- 
minded  young  Swiss,  Sigismund  Biederman. 

The  little  court  of  Aix  were  left  to  their  mourning.  King 
Ren^,  for  whom  ceremonial  and  show,  whether  of  a  jo3^ul  or 
melancholy  character,  was  always  matter  of  importance,  would 
willingly  have  bestowed  in  solemnising  the  obsequies  of  his 
daughter  Margaret  what  remained  of  his  revenue,  but  was 
prevented  from  doing  so,  partly  by  remonstrances  from  his 
ministers,  partly  by  the  obstacles  opposed  by  the  young  Eng- 
lishman, who,  acting  upon  the  presumed  will  of  the  dead, 
interfered  to  prevent  any  such  fantastic  exhibitions  being  pro- 
duced at  the  obsequies  of  the  Queen  as  had  disgusted  her 
during  her  life. 

The  funeral,  therefore,  after  many  days  had  been  spent  in 
public  prayers  and  acts  of  devotion,  was  solemnised  with  the 
mournful  magnificence  due  to  the  birth  of  the  deceased,  and 
with  which  the  Church  of  Rome  so  well  knows  how  to  affect  at 
once  the  eye,  ear,  and  feelings. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  423 

Amid  the  various  nobles  who  assisted  on  the  solemn  occa- 
sion, there  was  one  who  arrived  just  as  the  tolling  of  the  great 
bells  of  St.  Sauveur  had  announced  that  the  procession  was 
already  on  its  way  to  the  cathedral.  The  stranger  hastily  ex- 
changed his  travelling-dress  for  a  suit  of  deep  mourning,  which 
was  made  after  the  fashion  proper  to  England.  So  attired,  he 
repaired  to  the  cathedral,  where  the  noble  mien  of  the  cavalier 
imposed  such  respect  on  the  attendants,  that  he  was  permitted 
to  approach  close  to  the  side  of  the  bier ;  and  it  was  across  the 
coffin  of  the  queen  for  whom  he  had  acted  and  suffered  so 
much  that  the  gallant  Earl  of  Oxford  exchanged  a  melancholy 
glance  with  his  son.  The  assistants,  especially  the  English 
servants  of  Margaret,  gazed  on  them  both  with  respect  and 
wonder,  and  the  elder  cavalier,  in  particular,  seemed  to  them 
no  unapt  representative  of  the  faithful  subjects  of  England, 
paying  their  last  duty  at  the  tomb  of  her  who  had  so  long 
swayed  the  sceptre,  if  not  faultlessly,  yet  always  with  a  bold 
and  resolved  hand. 

The  last  sound  of  the  solemn  dirge  had  died  away,  and 
almost  all  the  funeral  attendants  had  retired,  when  the  father 
and  son  still  lingered  in  mournful  silence  beside  the  remains  of 
their  sovereign.  The  clergy  at  length  approached,  and  inti- 
mated they  were  about  to  conclude  the  last  duties,  by  remov- 
ing the  body  which  had  been  lately  occupied  and  animated  by 
so  haughty  and  restless  a  spirit  to  the  dust,  darkness,  and 
silence  of  the  vault,  where  the  long- descended  Counts  of  Pro- 
vence awaited  dissolution.  Six  priests  raised  the  bier  on  their 
shoulders,  others  bore  huge  waxen  torches  before  and  behind 
the  body,  as  they  carried  it  down  a  private  staircase  which 
yawned  in  the  floor  to  admit  their  descent.  The  last  notes  of 
the  requiem,  in  which  the  churchmen  joined,  had  died  away 
along  the  high  and  fretted  arches  of  the  cathedral,  the  last 
flash  of  light  which  arose  from  the  mouth  of  the  vault  had 
glimmered  and  disappeared,  when  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  taking 
his  son  by  the  arm,  led  him  in  silence  forth  into  a  small  cloistered 
court  behind  the  building,  where  they  found  themselves  alone. 
They  were  silent  for  a  few  minutes,  for  both,  and  particularly 
the  father,  were  deeply  affected.    At  length  the  Earl  spoke. 

'And  this,  then,  is  her  end,'  said  he.  'Here,  royal  lady,  all 
that  we  have  planned  and  pledged  life  upon  falls  to  pieces  with 
thy  dissolution !  The  heart  of  resolution,  the  head  of  policy 
is  gone ;  and  what  avails  it  that  the  limbs  of  the  enterprise 
still  have  motion  and  life  ?    Alas,  Margaret  of  Anjou !  may 


424  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

Heaven  reward  thy  virtues,  and  absolve  thee  from  the  conse- 
quence of  thine  errors  !  Both  belonged  to  thy  station,  and  if 
thou  didst  hoist  too  high  a  sail  in  prosperity,  never  lived  there 
princess  who  defied  more  proudly  the  storms  of  adversity,  or 
bore  up  against  them  with  such  dauntless  nobility  of  determi- 
nation. With  this  event  the  drama  has  closed,  and  our  parts, 
my  son,  are  ended.' 

*  We  bear  arms,  then,  against  the  infidels,  my  lord  1 '  said 
Arthur,  with  a  sigh  that  was,  however,  hardly  audible. 

'  Not,'  answered  the  Earl,  '  until  I  learn  that  Henry  of  Rich- 
mond, the  undoubted  heir  of  the  house  of  Lancaster,  has  no 
occasion  for  my  services.  In  these  jewels  of  which  you  wrote 
me,  so  strangely  lost  and  recovered,  I  may  be  able  to  supply 
him  with  resources  more  needful  than  either  your  services  or 
mine.  But  I  return  no  more  to  the  camp  of  the  Duke  of 
Burgundy ;  for  in  him  there  is  no  help.' 

'  Can  it  be  possible  that  the  power  of  so  great  a  sovereign  has 
been  overthrown  in  one  fatal  battle  1 '  said  Arthur. 

'By  no  means,'  replied  his  father.  'The  loss  at  Granson 
was  very  great ;  but  to  the  strength  of  Burgundy  it  is  but  a 
scratch  on  the  shoulders  of  a  giant.  It  is  the  spirit  of  Charles 
himself,  his  wisdom,  at  least,  and  his  foresight,  which  have 
given  way  under  the  mortification  of  a  defeat  by  such  as  he 
accounted  inconsiderable  enemies,  and  expected  to  have  trampled 
down  with  a  few  squadrons  of  his  men-at-arms.  Then  his 
temper  is  become  froward,  peevish,  and  arbitrary,  devoted  to 
those  who  flatter  and,  as  there  is  too  much  reason  to  believe, 
betray  him,  and  suspicious  of  those  counsellors  who  give  him 
wholesome  advice.  Even  I  have  had  my  share  of  distrust. 
Thou  knowest  I  refused  to  bear  arms  against  our  late  hosts  the 
Swiss,  and  he  saw  in  that  no  reason  for  rejecting  my  attend- 
ance on  his  march.  But  since  the  defeat  of  Granson,  I  have 
observed  a  strong  and  sudden  change,  owing,  perhaps,  in  some 
degree  to  the  insinuations  of  Campo-basso,  and  not  a  little  to 
the  injured  pride  of  the  Duke,  who  was  unwilling  that  an  in- 
different person  in  my  situation,  and  thinking  as  I  do,  should 
witness  the  disgrace  of  his  arms.  He  spoke  in  my  hearing  of 
lukewarm  friends,  cold-blooded  neutrals  —  of  those  who,  not 
being  with  him,  must  be  against  him.  I  tell  thee,  Arthur  de 
Vere,  the  Duke  has  said  that  which  touched  my  honour  so 
nearly,  that  nothing  but  the  commands  of  Queen  Margaret 
and  the  interests  of  the  house  of  Lancaster  could  have  made 
me  remain  in  his  camp.     That  is  over.     My  royal  mistress  has 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  425 

no  more  occasion  for  my  poor  services  ;  the  Duke  can  spare  no 
aid  to  our  cause,  and  if  he  could,  we  can  no  longer  dispose  of 
the  only  bribe  which  might  have  induced  him  to  afford  us 
succours.  The  power  of  seconding  his  views  on  Provence  is 
buried  with  Margaret  of  Anjou.' 

'  What,  then,  is  your  purpose  1 '  demanded  his  son. 

'  I  propose,'  said  Oxford,  '  to  wait  at  the  court  of  King  Ren^ 
until  I  can  hear  from  the  Earl  of  Richmond,  as  we  must  still  call 
him.  I  am  aware  that  banished  men  are  rarely  welcome  at  the 
court  of  a  foreign  prince ;  but  I  have  been  the  faithful  follower 
of  his  daughter  Margaret.  I  only  propose  to  reside  in  disguise, 
and  desire  neither  notice  nor  maintenance ;  so  methinks  King 
Rend  will  not  refuse  to  permit  me  to  breathe  the  air  of  his 
dominions,  until  I  learn  in  what  direction  fortune  or  duty  shall 
call  me.' 

*Be  assured  he  will  not,'  answered  Arthur.  *Rend  is  in- 
capable of  a  base  or  ignoble  thought ;  and  if  he  could  despise 
trifles  as  he  detests  dishonour,  he  might  be  ranked  high  in  the 
list  of  monarchs.' 

This  resolution  being  adopted,  the  son  presented  his  father 
at  King  Rent's  court,  whom  he  privately  made  acquainted  that 
he  was  a  man  of  quality,  and  a  distinguished  Lancastrian.  The 
good  king  would  in  his  heart  have  preferred  a  guest  of  lighter 
accomplishments  and  gayer  temper  to  Oxford,  a  statesman 
and  a  soldier  of  melancholy  and  grave  habits.  The  Earl  was 
conscious  of  this,  and  seldom  troubled  his  benevolent  and  light- 
hearted  host  with  his  presence.  He  had,  however,  an  oppor- 
tunity of  rendering  the  old  king  a  favour  of  peculiar  value. 
This  was  in  conducting  an  important  treaty  betwixt  Rend  and 
Louis  XL  of  France,  his  nephew.  Upon  that  crafty  monarch 
Rend  finally  settled  his  principality ;  for  the  necessity  of  extri- 
cating his  affairs  by  such  a  measure  was  now  apparent  even  to 
himself,  every  thought  of  favouring  Charles  of  Burgundy  in 
the  arrangement  having  died  with  Queen  Margaret.  The 
policy  and  wisdom  of  the  English  earl,  who  was  entrusted  with 
almost  the  sole  charge  of  this  secret  and  delicate  measure,  were 
of  the  utmost  advantage  to  good  King  Rend,  who  was  freed  from 
personal  and  pecuniary  vexations,  and  enabled  to  go  piping  and 
tabouring  to  his  grave.  Louis  did  not  fail  to  propitiate  the 
plenipotentiary,  by  throwing  out  distant  hopes  of  aid  to  the 
efforts  of  the  Lancastrian  party  in  England.  A  faint  and  in- 
secure negotiation  was  entered  into  upon  the  subject ;  and 
these  affairs,  which  rendered  two  journeys  to  Paris  necessary  on 


426  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

the  part  of  Oxford  and  his  son  in  the  spring  and  summer  of 
the  year  1476,  occupied  them  until  that  year  was  half  spent. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  wars  of  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  with 
the  Swiss  cantons  and  Count  Ferrand  of  Lorraine  continued 
to  rage.  Before  midsummer  1476,  Charles  had  assembled  a 
new  army  of  at  least  sixty  thousand  men,  supported  by  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pieces  of  cannon,  for  the  purpose  of  invading 
Switzerland,  where  the  warlike  mountaineers  easily  levied  a 
host  of  thirty  thousand  Switzers,  now  accounted  almost  in- 
vincible, and  called  upon  their  confederates,  the  Free  Cities  on 
the  Rhine,  to  support  them  with  a  powerful  body  of  cavalry. 
The  first  efforts  of  Charles  were  successful.  He  overran  the 
Pays  de  Vaud,  and  recovered  most  of  the  places  which  he  had 
lost  after  the  defeat  at  Granson.  But,  instead  of  attempting  to 
secure  a  well- defended  fi-ontier,  or,  what  would  have  been  still 
more  politic,  to  achieve  a  peace  upon  equitable  terms  with  his 
redoubtable  neighbours,  this  most  obstinate  of  princes  resumed 
the  purpose  of  penetrating  into  the  recesses  of  the  Alpine 
mountains,  and  chastising  the  mountaineers  even  within  their 
own  strongholds,  though  experience  might  have  taught  him 
the  danger,  nay,  desperation,  of  the  attempt.  Thus  the  news 
received  by  Oxford  and  his  son,  when  they  returned  to  Aix  in 
midsummer,  was,  that  Duke  Charles  had  advanced  to  Morat 
(or  Murten),  situated  upon  a  lake  of  the  same  name,  at  the 
very  entrance  of  Switzerland.  Here  report  said  that  Adrian 
de  Bubenberg,  a  veteran  knight  of  Berne,  commanded  and 
maintained  the  most  obstinate  defence,  in  expectation  of  the 
relief  which  his  countrymen  were  hastily  assembling. 

'  Alas,  my  old  brother-in-arms  ! '  said  the  Earl  to  his  son,  on 
hearing  these  tidings,  *  this  town  besieged,  these  assaults  re- 
pelled, this  vicinity  of  an  enemy's  country,  this  profound  lake, 
these  inaccessible  cliffs,  threaten  a  second  part  of  the  tragedy 
of  Granson,  more  calamitous  perhaps  than  even  the  former  ! ' 

On  the  last  week  of  July,  the  capital  of  Provence  was  agi- 
tated by  one  of  those  unauthorised,  yet  generally  received, 
rumours  which  transmit  great  events  with  incredible  swiftness, 
as  an  apple  flung  from  hand  to  hand  by  a  number  of  people  will 
pass  a  given  space  infinitely  faster  than  if  borne  by  the  most 
rapid  series  of  expresses.  The  report  announced  a  second  defeat 
of  the  Burgundians,  in  terms  so  exaggerated  as  induced  the 
Earl  of  Oxford  to  consider  the  greater  part,  if  not  the  whole,  as 
a  fabrication. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 


And  is  the  hostile  troop  arrived, 
And  have  they  won  the  day  ? 

It  must  have  been  a  bloody  field 
Ere  Darwent  fled  away  ! 

The  Mtrick  Shepherd. 


SLEEP  did  not  close  the  eyes  of  the  Earl  of  Oxford  or  his 
son ;  for,  although  the  success  or  defeat  of  the  Duke  of 
Burgundy  could  not  now  be  of  importance  to  their  own 
private  or  political  affairs,  yet  the  father  did  not  cease  to  in- 
terest himself  in  the  fate  of  his  former  companion-in-arms; 
and  the  son,  with  the  fire  of  youth,  always  eager  after  novelty,^ 
expected  to  find  something  to  advance  or  thwart  his  own  prog- 
ress in  every  remarkable  event  which  agitated  the  world. 

Arthur  had  risen  from  his  bed,  and  was  in  the  act  of  attir- 
ing himself,  when  the  tread  of  a  horse  arrested  his  attention. 
He  had  no  sooner  looked  out  of  the  window  than,  exclaiming, 
*  News,  my  father  —  news  from  the  army  ! '  he  rushed  into  the 
street,  where  a  cavalier,  who  appeared  to  have  ridden  very 
hard,  was  inquiring  for  the  two  Philipsons,  father  and  son. 
He  had  no  difficulty  in  recognising  Colvin,  the  master  of  the 
Burgundian  ordnance.  His  ghastly  look  bespoke  distress  of 
mind ;  his  disordered  array  and  broken  armour,  which  seemed 
rusted  with  rain  or  stained  with  blood,  gave  the  intelligence  of 
some  affray  in  which  he  had  probably  been  worsted;  and  so 
exhausted  was  his  gallant  steed,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  the 
animal  could  stand  upright.  The  condition  of  the  rider  was 
not  much  better.  "When  he  alighted  from  his  horse  to  greet 
Arthur,  he  reeled  so  much  that  he  would  have  fallen  without 
instant  support.  His  horny  eye  had  lost  the  power  of  specula- 
tion, his  limbs  possessed  imperfectly  that  of  motion,  and  it 
was  with  a  half- suffocated  voice  that  he  muttered,  '  Only  fatigue 
—  want  of  rest  and  of  food.' 


^  Cupidus  novarum  rerum. 


428  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

Arthur  assisted  him  into  the  house,  and  refreshments  were 
procured;  but  he  refused  all  except  a  bowl  of  wine,  after 
tasting  which  he  set  it  down,  and  looking  at  the  Earl  of  Oxford 
with  an  eye  of  the  deepest  affliction,  he  ejaculated,  '  The  Duke 
of  Burgundy ! ' 

'  Slain  1 '  replied  the  Earl ;  'I  trust  not ! ' 

'  It  might  have  been  better  if  he  were,'  said  the  Englishman ; 
*  but  dishonour  has  come  before  death.' 

'  Defeated,  then  'i '  said  Oxford. 

'So  completely  and  fearfully  defeated,'  answered  the  soldier, 
'that  all  that  I  have  seen  of  loss  before  was  slight  in  com- 
parison.' 

'But  how  or  where?'  said  the  Earl  of  Oxford;  'you  were 
superior  in  numbers,  as  we  were  informed.' 

'  Two  to  one  at  least,'  answered  Colvin ;  '  and  when  I  speak 
of  our  encounter  at  this  moment,  I  could  rend  my  flesh  with 
my  teeth  for  being  here  to  tell  such  a  tale  of  shame.  We  had 
sat  down  for  about  a  week  before  that  paltry  town  of  Murten, 
or  Morat,  or  whatever  it  is  called.  The  governor,. one  of  those 
stubborn  mountain  bears  of  Berne,  bade  us  defiance.  He  would 
not  even  condescend  to  shut  his  gates,  but,  when  we  summoned 
the  town,  returned  for  answer,  we  might  enter  if  we  pleased 
—  we  should  be  suitably  received.  I  would  have  tried  to  bring 
him  to  reason  by  a  salvo  or  two  of  artillery,  but  the  Duke  was 
too  much  irritated  to  listen  to  good  counsel.  Stimulated  by 
that  black  traitor,  Campo-basso,  he  deemed  it  better  to  run 
forward  with  his  whole  force  upon  a  place  which,  though  I 
could  soon  have  battered  it  about  their  German  ears,  was  yet 
too  strong  to  be  carried  by  swords,  lances,  and  hagbuts.  We 
were  beaten  off  with  great  loss,  and  much  discouragement  to 
the  soldiers.  We  then  commenced  more  regularly,  and  my  bat- 
teries would  have  brought  these  mad  Switzers  to  their  senses. 
Walls  and  ramparts  went  down  before  the  lusty  cannoneers  of 
Burgundy ;  we  were  well  secured  also  by  intrenchments  against 
those  whom  we  heard  of  as  approaching  to  raise  the  siege. 
But  on  the  evening  of  the  twentieth  of  this  month,  we 
learned  that  they  were  close  at  hand,  and  Charles,  consulting 
only  his  own  bold  spirit,  advanced  to  meet  them,  relinquishing 
the  advantage  of  our  batteries  and  strong  position.  By  his 
orders,  though  against  my  own  judgment,  I  accompanied  him 
with  twenty  good  pieces,  and  the  flower  of  my  people.  We  broke 
up  on  the  next  morning,  and  had  not  advanced  far  before  we  saw 
the  lances  and  thick  array  of  halberds  and  two-handed  swords 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  429 

which  crested  the  mountain.  Heaven,  too,  added  its  terrors : 
a  thunderstorm,  with  all  the  fury  of  those  tempestuous  climates, 
descended  on  both  armies,  but  did  most  annoyance  to  ours, 
as  our  troops,  especially  the  Italians,  were  more  sensible  to  the 
torrents  of  rain  which  poured  down,  and  the  rivulets  which, 
swelled  into  torrents,  inundated  and  disordered  our  position. 
The  Duke  for  once  saw  it  necessary  to  alter  his  purpose  of 
instant  battle.  He  rode  up  to  me,  and  directed  me  to  defend 
with  the  cannon  the  retreat  which  lie  was  about  to  commence, 
adding,  that  he  himself  would  in  person  sustain  me  with  the 
men-at-arms.  The  order  was  given  to  retreat.  But  the  move- 
ment gave  new  spirit  to  an  enemy  already  sufficiently  audacious. 
The  ranks  of  the  Swiss  instantly  prostrated  themselves  in  prayer 
—  a  practice  in  the  field  of  battle  which  I  have  ridiculed,  but  I 
will  do  so  no  more.  When,  after  five  minutes,  they  sprung  again 
on  their  feet,  and  began  to  advance  rapidly,  sounding  their  horns 
and  crjdng  their  war-cries  with  all  their  usual  ferocity,  behold, 
my  lord,  the  clouds  of  heaven  opened,  shedding  on  the  Confeder- 
ates the  blessed  light  of  the  returning  sun,  while  our  ranks  were 
still  in  the  gloom  of  the  tempest.  My  men  were  discouraged. 
The  host  behind  them  was  retreating ;  the  sudden  light  thrown 
on  the  advancing  Switzers  showed  along  the  mountains  a  pro- 
fusion of  banners,  a  glancing  of  arms,  giving  to  the  enemy 
the  appearance  of  double  the  numbers  that  had  hitherto  been 
visible  to  us.  I  exhorted  my  followers  to  stand  fast,  but  in 
doing  so  I  thought  a  thought,  and  spoke  a  word,  which  was  a 
grievous  sin.  "Stand  fast,  my  brave  cannoneers,"  I  said,  "we 
will  presently  let  them  hear  louder  thunders,  and  show  them 
more  fatal  lightnings,  than  their  prayers  have  put  down !  "  My 
men  shouted.  But  it  was  an  impious  thought  —  a  blasphemous 
speech,  and  evil  came  after  it.  We  levelled  our  guns  on  the 
advancing  masses  as  fairly  as  cannon  were  ever  pointed  :  I  can 
vouch  it,  for  I  laid  the  Grand  Duchess  of  Burgundy  myself.  Ah, 
poor  Duchess  !  what  rude  hands  manage  thee  now  !  The  volley 
was  fired,  and  ere  the  smoke  spread  from  the  muzzles  I  could 
see  many  a  man  and  many  a  banner  go  down.  It  was  natural 
to  think  such  a  discharge  should  have  checked  the  attack,  and 
whilst  the  smoke  hid  the  enemy  from  us,  I  made  every  efibrt 
again  to  load  our  cannon,  and  anxiously  endeavoured  to  look 
through  the  mist  to  discover  the  state  of  our  opponents.  But 
ere  our  smoke  was  cleared  away,  or  the  cannon  again  loaded, 
they  came  headlong  down  on  us,  horse  and  foot,  old  men  and 
boys,  men-at-arms  and  varlets,  charging  up  to  the  muzzle  of 


430  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

the  guns,  and  over  them,  with  total  disregard  to  their  lives. 
My  brave  fellows  were  cut  down,  pierced  through,  and  overrun, 
while  they  were  again  loading  their  pieces,  nor  do  I  believe 
that  a  single  cannon  was  fired  a  second  time.' 

*And  the  Duke  — '  said  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  'did  he  not 
support  you  1 ' 

'Most  loyally  and  bravely,'  answered  Colvin,  'with  his  own 
body-guard  of  "Walloons  and  Burgundians.  But  a  thousand 
Italian  mercenaries  went  off,  and  never  showed  face  again.  The 
pass,  too,  was  cumbered  with  the  artillery,  and  in  itself  narrow, 
bordering  on  mountains  and  cliffs,  a  deep  lake  close  beside. 
In  short,  it  was  a  place  totally  unfit  for  horsemen  to  act  in.  In 
spite  of  the  Duke's  utmost  exertions,  and  those  of  the  gallant 
Flemings  who  fought  around  him,  all  were  borne  back  in 
complete  disorder.  I  was  on  foot,  fighting  as  I  could,  without 
hopes  of  my  life,  or  indeed  thoughts  of  saving  it,  when  I  saw 
the  guns  taken  and  my  faithful  cannoneers  slain.  But  I  saw 
Duke  Charles  hard  pressed,  and  took  my  horse  from  my  page 
that  held  him.  Thou,  too,  art  lost,  my  poor  orphan  boy  !  I 
could  only  aid  Monseigneur  de  la  Croye  and  others  to  extri- 
cate the  Duke.  Our  retreat  became  a  total  rout,  and  when  we 
reached  our  rear-guard,  which  we  had  left  strongly  encamped, 
the  banners  of  the  Switzers  were  waving  on  our  batteries,  for 
a  large  division  had  made  a  circuit  through  mountain  passes 
known  only  to  themselves,  and  attacked  our  camp,  vigorously 
seconded  by  that  accursed  Adrian  de  Bubenberg,  who  sallied 
from  the  beleaguered  town,  so  that  our  entrenchments  were 
stormed  on  both  sides  at  once.  I  have  more  to  say,  but,  having 
ridden  day  and  night  to  bring  you  these  evil  tidings,  my  tongue 
clings  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth,  and  I  feel  that  I  can  speak  no 
more.  The  rest  is  aU  flight  and  massacre,  disgraceful  to  every 
soldier  that  shared  in  it.  For  my  part,  I  confess  my  con- 
tumelious self-confidence  and  insolence  to  man,  as  well  as 
blasphemy  to  Heaven.  If  I  live,  it  is  but  to  hide  my  disgraced 
head  in  a  cowl,  and  expiate  the  numerous  sins  of  a  licentious 
life.' 

"With  difficulty  the  broken-minded  soldier  was  prevailed  upon 
to  take  some  nourishment  and  repose,  together  with  an  opiate 
which  was  prescribed  by  the  physician  of  King  Ren^,  who  rec- 
ommended it  as  necessary  to  preserve  even  the  reason  of  his 
patient,  exhausted  by  the  events  of  the  battle  and  subsequent 
Kitigue. 

The  Earl  of  Oxford,  dismissing  other  assistance,  watched  alter- 


'  I  saw  the  guns  taken  and  my  faithful  cannoneers  slain.'  " 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  4S1 

nately  with  his  son  at  Colvin's  bedside.  Notwithstanding  the 
draught  that  had  been  administered,  his  repose  was  far  irom 
sound.  Sudden  starts,  the  perspiration  which  sprung  from  his 
brow,  the  distortions  of  his  countenance,  and  the  manner  in 
which  he  clenched  his  fists  and  flung  about  his  limbs,  showed 
that  in  his  dreams  he  was  again  encountering  the  terrors  of  a 
desperate  and  forlorn  combat.  This  lasted  for  several  hours ; 
but  about  noon,  fatigue  and  medicine  prevailed  over  nervous 
excitation,  and  the  defeated  commander  fell  into  a  deep  and  un- 
troubled repose  till  evening.  About  sunset  he  awakened,  and, 
after  learning  with  whom  and  where  he  was,  he  partook  of  re- 
freshments, and,  without  any  apparent  consciousness  of  having 
told  them  before,  detailed  once  more  all  the  particulars  of  the 
battle  of  Murten. 

'  It  were  little  wide  of  truth,  ne  said,  *  to  calculate  that  one 
half  of  the  Duke's  army  fell  by  the  sword  or  were  driven  into 
the  lake.  Those  who  escaped  are  great  part  of  them  scattered, 
never  again  to  unite.  Such  a  desperate  and  irretrievable  rout 
was  never  witnessed.  "We  fled  like  deer,  sheep,  or  any  other 
timid  animals,  which  only  remain  in  company  because  they  are 
afraid  to  separate,  but  never  think  of  order  or  of  defence.' 

*  And  the  Duke  ? '  said  the  Earl  of  Oxford. 

'We  hurried  him  with  us,'  said  the  soldier,  'rather  from  in- 
stinct than  loyalty,  as  men  flying  from  a  conflagration  snatch 
up  what  they  have  of  value,  without  knowing  what  they  are 
doing.  Knight  and  knave,  officer  and  soldier,  fled  in  the  same 
panic,  and  each  blast  of  the  horn  of  Uri  in  our  rear  added  new 
wings  to  our  flight.' 

'  And  the  Duke  ? '  repeated  Oxford. 

'  At  first  he  resisted  our  efforts,  and  strove  to  turn  back  on 
the  foe ;  but  when  the  flight  became  general,  he  galloped  along 
with  us,  without  a  word  spoken  or  a  command  issued.  At  first 
we  thought  his  silence  and  passiveness,  so  unusual  in  a  temper 
so  fiery,  were  fortunate  for  securing  his  personal  safety.  But 
when  we  rode  the  whole  day,  without  being  able  to  obtain  a 
word  of  reply  to  all  our  questions,  when  he  sternly  refused  re- 
freshments of  every  kind,  though  he  had  tasted  no  food  all  that 
disastrous  day,  when  every  variation  of  his  moody  and  uncertain 
temper  was  sunk  into  silent  and  sullen  despair,  we  took  counsel 
what  was  to  be  done,  and  it  was  by  the  general  voice  that  I  was 
despatched  to  entreat  that  you,  for  whose  counsels  alone  Charles 
has  been  known  to  have  had  some  occasional  deference,  would 
come  instantly  to  his  place  of  retreat,  and  exert  all  your  influence 


43^  ANx\E  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

to  awaken  him  from  this  lethargy,  which  may  otherwise  terminate 
his  existence/ 

*And  what  remedy  can  I  interpose?'  said  Oxford.  'You 
know  how  he  neglected  my  advice,  when  following  it  might  have 
served  my  interest  as  well  as  his  own.  You  are  aware  that  my 
life  was  not  safe  among  the  miscreants  that  surrounded  the 
Duke  and  exercised  influence  over  him.' 

'Most  true,'  answered  Colvin ;  'but  I  also  know  he  is  your 
ancient  companion-in-arms,  and  it  would  ill  become  me  to  teach 
the  noble  Earl  of  Oxford  what  the  laws  of  chivalry  require. 
For  your  lordship's  safety,  every  honest  man  in  the  army  will 
give  willing  security.' 

'It  is  for  that  I  care  least,'  said  Oxford  indilFerently ;  'and 
if  indeed  my  presence  can  be  of  service  to  the  Duke  —  if  I  could 
believe  that  he  desired  it ' 

'He  does  —  he  does,  my  lord,'  said  the  faithful  soldier,  with 
tears  in  his  eyes.  '  We  heard  him  name  your  name,  as  if  the 
words  escaped  him  in  a  painful  dream.' 

'  I  will  go  to  him,  such  being  the  case,'  said  Oxford  — '  I  will 
go  instantly.  Where  did  he  purpose  to  establish  his  head- 
quarters ? ' 

'  He  had  fixed  nothing  for  himself  on  that  or  other  matters ; 
but  Monsieur  de  Contay  named  La  Riviere,  near  Salins,  in  Upper 
Burgundy,  as  the  place  of  his  retreat.' 

'  Thither,  then,  will  we,  my  son,  with  all  haste  of  preparation. 
Thou,  Colvin,  hadst  better  remain  here,  and  see  some  holy  man, 
to  be  assoilzied  for  thy  hasty  speech  on  the  battle-field  of  Morat. 
There  was  oifence  in  it  without  doubt,  but  it  will  be  ill  atoned 
for  by  quitting  a  generous  master  when  he  hath  most  need  of 
your  good  service ;  and  it  is  but  an  act  of  cowardice  to  retreat 
into  the  cloister  till  we  have  no  longer  active  duties  to  perform 
in  this  world.' 

'  It  is  true,'  said  Colvin,  'that,  should  I  leave  the  Duke  now, 
perhaps  not  a  man  would  stay  behind  that  could  stell  a  cannon 
properly.  The  sight  of  your  lordship  cannot  but  operate  favour- 
ably on  my  noble  master,  since  it  has  waked  the  old  soldier 
in  myself  If  your  lordship  can  delay  your  journey  till  to- 
morrow, I  will  have  my  spiritual  affairs  settled,  and  my  bodily 
health  sufficiently  restored,  to  be  your  guide  to  La  Riviere  ;  and, 
for  the  cloister,  I  will  think  of  it  when  I  have  regained  the  good 
name  which  I  have  lost  at  Murten.  But  I  wiU  have  masses  said, 
and  these  right  powerful,  for  the  souls  of  my  poor  cannoneers.* 

The  proposal  of  Colvin  was  adopted,  and  Oxford,  with  his 


/^ 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  43S 

son,  attended  by  Thiebault,  spent  the  day  in  preparation,  except- 
ing the  time  necessary  to  take  formal  leave  of  King  Rend,  who 
seemed  to  part  with  them  with  regret.  In  company  with  the 
ordnance  officer  of  the  discomfited  duke,  they  traversed  those 
parts  of  Provence,  Dauphind,  and  Franche-Comptd  which  lie 
between  Aix  and  the  place  to  which  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  had 
retreated ;  but  the  distance  and  inconvenience  of  so  long  a  route 
consumed  more  than  a  fortnight  on  the  road,  and  the  month  of 
July  1476  was  commenced  when  the  travellers  arrived  in  Upper 
Burgundy,  and  at  the  Castle  of  La  Riviere,  about  twenty  miles 
to  the  south  of  the  town  of  Salins.  The  castle,  which  was  but 
of  small  size,  was  surrounded  by  very  many  tents,  which  were 
pitched  in  a  crowded,  disordered,  and  unsoldierlike  manner,  very 
unlike  the  discipline  usually  observed  in  the  camp  of  Charles 
the  Bold.  That  the  Duke  was  present  there,  however,  was 
attested  by  his  broad  banner,  which,  rich  with  all  its  quarter- 
ings,  streamed  from  the  battlements  of  the  castle.  The  guard 
turned  out  to  receive  the  strangers,  but  in  a  manner  so  disor- 
derly, that  the  Earl  looked  to  Colvin  for  explanation.  The  master 
of  the  ordnance  shrugged  up  his  shoulders  and  was  silent. 

Colvin  having  sent  in  notice  of  his  arrival,  and  that  of  the 
English  earl.  Monsieur  de  Contay  caused  them  presently  to  be 
admitted,  and  expressed  much  joy  at  their  arrival. 

'A  few  of  us,'  he  said,  'true  servants  of  the  Duke,  are 
holding  counsel  here,  at  which  your  assistance,  my  noble  Lord 
of  Oxford,  will  be  of  the  utmost  importance.  Messieurs  De  la 
Croye,  De  Craon,  Rubemprd,  and  others,  nobles  of  Burgundy, 
are  now  assembled  to  superintend  the  defence  of  the  country 
at  this  exigence.' 

They  all  expressed  delight  to  see  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  and  had 
only  abstained  fi:om  thrusting  their  attentions  on  him  the  last 
time  he  was  in  the  Duke's  camp,  as  they  understood  it  was  his 
wish  to  observe  incognito. 

*His  Grace,'  said  De  Craon,  'has  asked  after  you  twice,  and 
on  both  times  by  your  assumed  name  of  Philipson.' 

'I  wonder  not  at  that,  my  Lord  of  Craon,'  replied  the 
English  nobleman  :  '  the  origin  of  the  name  took  its  rise  in 
former  days,  when  I  was  here  during  my  first  exile.  It  was 
then  said  that  we  poor  Lancastrian  nobles  must  assume  other 
names  than  our  own,  and  the  good  Duke  Philip  said,  as  I  was 
brother-in-arms  to  his  son  Charles,  I  must  be  called  after  himself, 
by  the  name  of  Philipson.  In  memory  of  the  good  sovereign, 
I  took  that  name  when  the  day  of  need  actually  arrived,  and  I 

VOL.  XXIII 28 


434  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

see  that  the  Duke  thinks  of  our  early  intimacy  by  his  distin- 
guishing me  so.    How  fares  his  Grace  1 ' 

The  Burgundians  looked  at  each  other,  and  there  was  a  pause. 

*Even  like  a  man  stunned,  brave  Oxford,'  at  length  De 
Contay  replied.  'Sieur  d'Argenton,  you  can  best  inform  the 
noble  Earl  of  the  condition  of  our  sovereign/ 

*He  is  like  a  man  distracted,'  said  the  future  historian  of 
that  busy  period.  *  After  the  battle  of  Granson,  he  was  never, 
to  my  thinking,  of  the  same  sound  judgment  as  before.  But 
then  he  was  capricious,  unreasonable,  peremptory,  and  incon- 
sistent, and  resent^ed  every  counsel  that  was  offered,  as  if  it  had 
been  meant  in  insult ;  was  jealous  of  the  least  trespass  in  point 
of  ceremonial,  as  if  his  subjects  were  holding  him  in  contempt. 
Now  there  is  a  total  change,  as  if  this  second  blow  had  stunned 
him,  and  suppressed  the  violent  passions  which  the  first  called 
into  action.  He  is  silent  as  a  Carthusian,  solitary  as  a  her- 
mit, expresses  interest  in  nothing,  least  of  all  in  the  guidance 
of  his  army.  He  was,  you  know,  anxious  about  his  dress  ;  so 
much  so,  that  there  was  some  affectation  even  in  the  rude- 
nesses which  he  practised  in  that  matter.  But,  woe 's  me,  you 
will  see  a  change  now :  he  will  not  suffer  his  hair  or  nails  to 
be  trimmed  or  arranged.  He  is  totally  heedless  of  respect  or 
disrespect  towards  him,  takes  little  or  no  nourishment,  uses 
strong  wines,  which,  however,  do  not  seem  to  affect  his  under- 
standing ;  he  will  hear  nothing  of  war  or  state  affairs,  as  little 
of  hunting  or  of  sport.  Suppose  an  anchorite  brought  from  a 
cell  to  govern  a  kingdom,  you  see  in  him,  except  in  point  of 
devotion,  a  picture  of  the  fiery,  active  Charles  of  Burgundy.' 

*  You  speak  of  a  mind  deeply  wounded,  Sieur  d'Argenton,' 
replied  the  Englishman.  *  Think  you  it  fit  I  should  present 
myself  before  the  Duke  ? ' 

*I  will  inquire,'  said  Contay;  and  leaving  the  apartment, 
returned  presently,  and  made  a  sign  to  the  Earl  to  follow  him. 

In  a  cabinet,  or  closet,  the  unfortunate  Charles  reclined  in 
a  large  arm-chair,  his  legs  carelessly  stretched  on  a  footstool, 
but  so  changed  that  the  Earl  of  Oxford  could  have  believed 
what  he  saw  to  be  the  ghost  of  the  once  fiery  Duke.  Indeed, 
the  shaggy  length  of  hair  which,  streaming  from  his  head, 
mingled  with  his  beard,  the  hollowness  of  the  caverns  at  the 
bottom  of  which  rolled  his  wild  eyes,  the  falling  in  of  the 
breast,  and  the  advance  of  the  shoulders,  gave  the  ghastly 
appearance  of  one  who  has  suffered  the  final  agony  which  takes 
firom  mortality  the  signs  of  life  and  energy.     His  very  costume 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  435 

(a  cloak  flung  loosely  over  him)  increased  his  resemblance  to  a 
shrouded  phantom.  De  Contay  named  the  Earl  of  Oxford ; 
but  the  Duke  gazed  on  him  with  a  lustreless  eye,  and  gave 
him  no  answer. 

*  Speak  to  him,  brave  Oxford,'  said  the  Burgundian,  in  a 
whisper ;  'he  is  even  worse  than  usual,  but  perhaps  he  may 
know  your  voice.' 

Never,  when  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  was  in  the  most  palmy 
state  of  his  fortunes,  did  the  noble  Englishman  kneel  to  kiss 
his  hand  with  such  sincere  reverence.  He  respected  in  him 
not  only  the  afflicted  friend,  but  the  humbled  sovereign,  upon 
whose  tower  of  trust  the  lightning  had  so  recently  broken. 
It  was  probably  the  falling  of  a  tear  upon  his  hand  which 
seemed  to  awake  the  Duke's  attention,  for  he  looked  towards 
the  Earl  and  said,  '  Oxford  —  Philipson  —  my  old  —  my  only 
friend,  hast  thou  found  me  out  in  this  retreat  of  shame  and 
misery  1 ' 

'  I  am  not  your  only  friend,  my  lord,'  said  Oxford.  '  Heaven 
has  given  you  many  affectionate  friends  among  your  natural 
and  loyal  subjects.  But  though  a  stranger,  and  saving  the 
allegiance  I  owe  to  my  lawful  sovereign,  I  will  yield  to  none 
of  them  in  the  respect  and  deference  which  I  have  paid  to 
your  Grace  in  prosperity,  and  now  come  to  render  to  you  in 
adversity.' 

*  Adversity  indeed  ! '  said  the  Duke  — '  irremediable,  intoler- 
able adversity !  I  was  lately  Charles  of  Burgundy,  called  the 
Bold  ;  now  am  I  twice  beaten  by  a  scum  of  German  peasants, 
my  standard  taken,  my  men-at-arms  put  to  flight,  my  camp 
twice  plundered,  and  each  time  of  value  more  than  equal  to 
the  price  of  all  Switzerland  fairly  lost;  myself  hunted  like  a 
caitiff  goat  or  chamois.  The  utmost  spite  of  hell  could  never 
accumulate  more  shame  on  the  head  of  a  sovereign  ! ' 

'  On  the  contrary,  my  lord,'  said  Oxford,  'it  is  a  trial  of 
Heaven,  which  calls  for  patience  and  strength  of  mind.  The 
bravest  and  bes£  knight  may  lose  the  saddle ;  he  is  but  a 
laggard  who  lies  rolling  on  the  sand  of  the  lists  after  the 
accident  has  chanced.' 

*  Ha,  laggard,  sayst  thou  ? '  said  the  Duke,  some  part  of  his 
ancient  spirit  awakened  by  the  broad  taunt.  '  Leave  my  pres- 
ence, sir,  and  return  to  it  no  more  till  you  are  summoned 
thither ' 

'  Which  I  trust  will  be  no  later  than  your  Grace  quits  your 
dishabille,  and  disposes  yourself  to  see  your  vassals  and  friends 


436  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

with  such  ceremony  as  befits  you  and  them,'  said  the  Earl, 
composedly. 

*  How  mean  you  by  that,  sir  earl  ?    You  are  unmannerly/ 

'  If  I  be,  my  lord,  I  am  taught  my  ill  breeding  by  circum- 
stances. I  can  mourn  over  fallen  dignity ;  but  I  cannot  hon- 
our him  who  dishonours  himself  by  bending,  like  a  regardless 
boy,  beneath  the  scourge  of  evil  fortune.' 

'And  who  am  I  that  you  should  term  me  such?'  said 
Charles,  starting  up  in  all  his  natural  pride  and  ferocity ;  '  or 
who  are  you  but  a  miserable  exile,  that  you  should  break  in 
upon  my  privacy  with  such  disrespectful  upbraiding  1 ' 

*  For  me,'  replied  Oxford,  *  I  am,  as  you  say,  an  unrespected 
exile;  nor  am  I  ashamed  of  my  condition,  since  unshaken 
loyalty  to  my  king  and  his  successors  has  brought  me  to  it. 
But  in  you,  can  I  recognise  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  in  a  sullen 
hermit,  whose  guards  are  a  disorderly  soldiery,  dreadful  only 
to  their  friends;  whose  councils  are  in  confusion  for  want  of 
their  sovereign,  and  who  himself  lurks  like  a  lamed  wolf  in  its 
den,  in  an  obscure  castle,  waiting  but  a  blast  of  the  Switzer's 
horn  to  fling  open  its  gates,  which  there  are  none  to  defend ; 
who  wears  not  a  knightly  sword  to  protect  his  person,  and 
cannot  even  die  like  a  stag  at  bay,  but  must  be  worried  like  a 
hunted  foxT 

'  Death  and  hell,  slanderous  traitor ! '  thundered  the  Duke, 
glancing  a  look  at  his  side,  and  perceiving  himself  without  a 
weapon.  *  It  is  well  for  thee  I  have  no  sword,  or  thou  shouldst 
never  boast  of  thine  insolence  going  unpunished.  Contay,  step 
forth  like  a  good  knight  and  confute  the  calumniator.  Say, 
are  not  my  soldiers  arrayed,  disciplined,  and  in  order  1 ' 

'My  lord,'  said  Contay,  trembling  (brave  as  he  was  in 
battle)  at  the  frantic  rage  which  Charles  exhibited,  '  there  are 
a  numerous  soldiery  yet  under  your  command,  but  they  are  in 
evil  order,  and  in  worse  discipline,  I  think,  than  they  were 
wont.' 

'  I  see  it  —  I  see  it,'  said  the  Duke ;  *  idle  and  evil  counsellors 
are  ye  all.  Hearken,  Sir  of  Contay,  what  have  you  and  the 
rest  of  you  been  doing,  holding  as  you  do  large  lands  and  high 
fiefs  of  us,  that  I  cannot  stretch  my  limbs  on  a  sick-bed,  when 
my  heart  is  half  broken,  but  my  troops  must  fall  into  such 
scandalous  disorder  as  exposes  me  to  the  scorn  and  reproach  of 
each  beggarly  foreigner  ? ' 

*  My  lord,'  replied  Contay,  more  firmly,  '  we  have  done  what 
we  could,     But  your  Grace  has  accustomed  your  mercenary 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  437 

generals  and  leaders  of  Free  Companies  to  take  their  orders 
only  from  your  own  mouth  or  hand.  They  clamor  also  for 
pay,  and  the  treasurer  refuses  to  issue  it  without  your  Grace's 
order,  as  he  alleges  it  might  cost  him  his  head ;  and  they  will 
not  be  guided  and  restrained,  either  by  us  or  those  who  com- 
pose your  council.' 

The  Duke  laughed  sternly,  but  was  evidently  somewhat 
pleased  with  the  reply. 

*  Ha,  ha ! '  he  said,  '  it  is  only  Burgundy  who  can  ride  his 
own  wild  horses,  and  rule  his  own  wild  soldiery.  Hark  thee, 
Contay.  To-morrow  I  ride  forth  to  review  the  troops ;  for  what 
disorder  has  passed,  allowance  shall  be  made.  Pay  also  shall 
be  issued ;  but  woe  to  those  who  shall  have  offended  too  deeply  ! 
Let  my  grooms  of  the  chamber  know  to  provide  me  fitting 
dress  and  arms.  I  have  got  a  lesson  (glancing  a  dark  look  at 
Oxford),  and  I  will  not  again  be  insulted  without  the  means  of 
wreaking  my  vengeance.  Begone,  both  of  you.  And,  Contay, 
send  the  treasurer  hither  with  his  accounts,  and  woe  to  his  soul 
if  I  find  ought  to  complain  of !  Begone,  1  say,  and  send  him 
hither.' 

They  left  the  apartment  with  suitable  obeisance.  As  they 
retired,  the  Duke  said,  abruptly,  '  Lord  of  Oxford,  a  word  with 
you.  Where  did  you  study  medicine?  In  your  own  famed 
university,  I  suppose.  Thy  physic  hath  wrought  a  wonder.  Yet, 
Doctor  Philipson,  it  might  have  cost  thee  thy  life.' 

*  I  have  ever  thought  my  life  cheap,'  said  Oxford,  *  when  the 
object  was  to  help  my  friend.' 

'  Thou  art  indeed  a  friend,'  said  Charles,  'and  a  fearless  one. 
But  go  —  I  have  been  sore  troubled,  and  thou  hast  tasked  my 
temper  closely.  To-morrow  we  will  speak  further ;  meantime, 
I  forgive  thee,  and  I  honour  thee.' 

The  Earl  of  Oxford  retired  to  the  council-ball,  where  the 
Burgundian  nobility,  aware  of  what  had  passed,  crowded  around 
him  with  thanks,  compliments,  and  congratulations.  A  general 
bustle  now  ensued ;  orders  were  hurried  off  in  every  direction. 
Those  officers  who  had  duties  to  perform  which  had  been 
neglected  hastened  to  conceal  or  to  atone  for  their  negligence. 
There  was  a  general  tumult  in  the  camp,  but  it  was  a  tumult 
of  joy  ;  for  soldiers  are  always  most  pleased  when  they  are  best 
in  order  for  performing  their  military  service ;  and  license  or 
inactivity,  however  acceptable  at  times,  are  not,  when  continued, 
so  agreeable  to  their  nature  as  strict  discipline  and  a  prospect 
of  employment. 


438  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTElN 

The  treasurer,  who  was,  luckily  for  him,  a  man  of  sense 
and  method,  having  been  two  hours  in  private  with  the  Duke, 
returned  with  looks  of  wonder,  and  professed  that  never,  in 
Charles's  most  prosperous  days,  had  he  showed  himself  more 
acute  in  the  department  of  finance,  of  which  he  had  but  that 
morning  seemed  totally  incapable;  and  the  merit  was  uni- 
versally attributed  to  the  visit  of  Lord  Oxford,  whose  timely 
reprimand  had,  like  the  shot  of  a  cannon  dispersing  foul  mists, 
awakened  the  Duke  from  his  black  and  bilious  melancholy. 

On  the  following  day,  Charles  reviewed  his  troops  with  his 
usual  attention,  directed  new  levies,  made  various  dispositions 
of  his  forces,  and  corrected  the  faults  of  their  discipline  by 
severe  orders,  which  were  enforced  by  some  deserved  punish- 
ments (of  which  the  Italian  mercenaries  of  Campo-basso  had  a 
large  share),  and  rendered  palatable  by  the  payment  of  arrears, 
which  was  calculated  to  attach  them  to  the  standard  under 
which  they  served. 

The  Duke  also,  after  consulting  with  his  council,  agreed  to 
convoke  meetings  of  the  States  in  his  different  territories,  re- 
dress certain  popular  grievances,  and  grant  some  boons  which 
he  had  hitherto  denied;  and  thus  began  to  open  a  new  ac- 
count of  popularity  with  his  subjects,  in  place  of  that  which 
his  rashness  had  exhausted. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 


Here 's  a  weapon  now 
Shall  shake  a  conquering  general  in  his  tent, 
A  monarch  on  his  throne,  or  reach  a  prelate, 
However  holy  be  his  offices, 
E'en  while  he  serves  the  altar. 

Old  Play. 

FROM  this  time  all  was  activity  in  the  Duke  of  Burgundy's 
court  and  army.  Money  was  collected,  soldiers  were 
levied,  and  certain  news  of  the  Confederates'  motions 
only  were  wanting  to  bring  on  the  campaign.  But  although 
Charles  was,  to  all  outward  appearance,  as  active  as  ever,  yet 
those  who  were  more  immediately  about  his  person  were  of 
opinion  that  he  did  not  display  the  soundness  of  mind  or  the 
energy  of  judgment  which  had  been  admired  in  him  before  these 
calamities.  He  was  still  liable  to  fits  of  moody  melancholy, 
similar  to  those  which  descended  upon  Saul,  and  was  vehe- 
mently furious  when  aroused  out  of  them.  Indeed,  the  Earl 
of  Oxford  himself  seemed  to  have  lost  the  power  which  he  had 
exercised  over  him  at  first.  Nay,  though  in  general  Charles 
was  both  grateful  and  afiectionate  towards  him,  he  evidently 
felt  humbled  by  the  recollection  of  his  having  witnessed  his 
impotent  and  disastrous  condition,  and  was  so  much  afi*aid 
of  Lord  Oxford  being  supposed  to  lead  his  counsels,  that  he 
often  repelled  his  advice,  merely,  as  it  seemed,  to  show  his  own 
independence  of  mind. 

In  these  froward  humours,  the  Duke  was  much  encouraged 
by  Campo-basso.  That  wily  traitor  now  saw  his  master's  affairs 
tottering  to  their  fall,  and  he  resolved  to  lend  his  lever  to  the 
work,  so  as  to  entitle  him  to  a  share  of  the  spoil.  He  regarded 
Oxford  as  one  of  the  most  able  fi-iends  and  counsellors  who 
adhered  to  the  Duke ;  he  thought  he  saw  in  his  looks  that  he 
fathomed  his  own  treacherous  purpose,  and  therefore  he  hated 
and  feared  him.  Besides,  in  order  perhaps  to  colour  over,  even 
to  his  own  eyes,  the  abominable  perfidy  he  meditated,  he  affected 
to  be  exceedingly  enraged  against  the  Duke  for  the  late  punish- 


440  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

mettfc  of  marauders  belonging  to  his  Italian  bands.  He  believed 
that  chastisement  to  have  been  inflicted  by  the  advice  of  Oxford  ; 
and  he  suspected  that  the  measure  was  pressed  with  the  hope 
of  disco vermg  that  the  Italians  had  not  pillaged  for  their  own 
emolument  only,  but  for  that  of  their  commander.  Believing 
that  Oxford  was  thus  hostile  to  him,  Campo-basso  would  have 
speedily  found  means  to  take  him  out  of  his  path,  had  not  the 
&rl  himself  found  it  prudent  to  observe  some  precautions  ;  and 
the  lords  of  Flanders  and  Burgundy,  who  loved  him  for  the  very 
reasons  for  which  the  Italian  abhorred  him,  watched  over  his 
safety  with  a  vigilance  of  which  he  himself  was  ignorant,  but 
which  certainly  was  the  means  of  preserving  his  life. 

It  was  not  to  be  supposed  that  Ferrand  of  Lorraine  should 
have  lefb  his  victory  so  long  unimproved ;  but  the  Swiss  Con- 
federates, who  were  the  strength  of  his  forces,  insisted  that  the 
first  operations  should  take  place  in  Savoy  and  the  Pays  de 
Vaud,  where  the  Burgundians  had  many  garrisons,  which,  though 
they  received  no  relief,  yet  were  not  easily  or  speedily  reduced. 
Besides,  the  Switzers  being,  like  most  of  the  national  soldiers  of 
the  time,  a  kind  of  militia,  most  of  them  returned  home  to  get  in 
their  harvest  and  to  deposit  their  spoil  in  safety.  Ferrand,  there- 
fore, though  bent  on  pursuing  his  success  with  all  the  ardour  of 
youthful  chivalry,  was  prevented  from  making  any  movement 
in  advance  until  the  month  of  December  1476.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  Duke  of  Burgundy's  forces,  to  be  least  burdensome  to 
the  country,  were  cantoned  in  distant  places  of  his  dominions, 
where  every  exertion  was  made  to  perfect  the  discipline  of  the 
new  levies.  The  Duke,  if  left  to  himself,  would  have  precipitated 
the  struggle  by  again  assembling  his  forces  and  pushing  forward 
into  the  Helvetian  territories ;  but,  though  he  inwardly  foamed 
at  the  recollection  of  Granson  and  Murten,  the  memory  of  these 
disasters  was  too  recent  to  permit  such  a  plan  of  the  campaign. 
Meantime,  weeks  glided  past,  and  the  month  of  December  was 
far  advanced  when  one  morning,  as  the  Duke  was  sitting  in 
council,  Campo-basso  suddenly  entered,  with  a  degree  of  extrav- 
agant rapture  in  his  countenance  singularly  different  from  the 
cold,  regulated,  and  subtle  smile  which  was  usually  his  utmost 
advance  towards  laughter.  '  Guantes^  ^  he  said  —  '  guantes^  for 
luck's  sake,  if  it  please  your  Grace.' 

*  And  what  of  good  fortune  comes  nigh  us  1 '  said  the  Duke. 
*  Methought  she  had  forgot  the  way  to  our  gates.' 

*  She  has  returned  to  them,  please  your  Highness,  with  her 

»  See  Note  10. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  441 

cornucopia  full  of  choicest  gifts,  ready  to  pour  her  fruit,  her 
flowers,  her  treasures,  on  the  head  of  the  sovereign  of  Europe 
most  worthy  to  receive  them.' 

*  The  meaning  of  all  this  1 '  said  Duke  Charles  :  *  riddles  are 
for  children.' 

'  The  hare-brained  young  madman  Ferrand,  who  calls  himself 
of  Lorraine,  has  broken  down  from  the  mountains,  at  the  head 
of  a  desultory  army  of  scapegraces  like  himself;  and  what 
think  you  —  ha !  ha  !  ha  !  —  they  are  overrunning  Lorraine, 
and  have  taken  Nancy  —  ha !  ha  !  ha  ! ' 

*By  my  good  faith,  sir  count,'  said  Contay,  astonished  at 
the  gay  humour  with  which  the  Italian  treated  a  matter  so 
serious,  'I  have  seldom  heard  a  fool  laugh  more  gaily  at  a 
more  scurvy  jest  than  you,  a  wise  man,  laugh  at  the  loss  of 
the  principal  town  of  the  province  we  are  fighting  for.' 

*  I  laugh,'  said  Campo-basso,  'among  the  spears,  as  my  war- 
horse  does  —  ha  !  ha  !  —  among  the  trumpets.  I  laugh  also 
over  the  destruction  of  the  enemy,  and  the  dividing  of  the 
spoil,  as  eagles  scream  their  joy  over  the  division  of  their  prey. 
I  laugh ' 

'  You  laugh,'  said  the  Lord  of  Contay,  waxing  impatient, 
*  when  you  have  all  the  mirth  to  yourself,  as  you  laughed  after 
our  losses  at  Granson  and  Murten.' 

*  Peace,  sir ! '  said  the  Duke.  *  The  Count  of  Camp-basso  has 
viewed  the  case  as  I  do.  This  young  knight-errant  ventures 
from  the  protection  of  his  mountains ;  and  Heaven  deal  with 
me  as  I  keep  my  oath,  when  I  swear  that  the  next  fair  field 
on  which  we  meet  shall  see  one  of  us  dead !  It  is  now  the 
last  week  of  the  old  year,  and  before  Twelfth  Day  we  will  see 
whether  he  or  I  shall  find  the  bean  in  the  cake.  To  arms,  my 
lords ;  let  our  camp  instantly  break  up,  and  our  troops  move 
forward  towards  Lorraine.  Send  oif  the  Italian  and  Albanian 
light  cavalry,  and  the  Stradiots,  to  scour  the  country  in  the 
van.  Oxford,  thou  wilt  bear  arms  in  this  journey,  wilt  thou 
notr 

*  Surely,'  said  the  Earl.  '  I  am  eating  your  Highness's  bread ; 
and  when  enemies  invade,  it  stands  with  my  honour  to  fight  for 
your  Grace  as  if  I  was  your  born  subject.  With  your  Grace's 
permission,  I  will  despatch  a  pursuivant,  who  shall  carry  let- 
ters to  my  late  kind  host,  the  Landamman  of  Unterwalden, 
acquainting  him  with  my  purpose.' 

The  Duke  having  given  a  ready  assent,  the  pursuivant  was 
dismissed  accordingly,  and  returned  in  a  few  hours,  so  near  had 


442  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

the  armies  approached  to  each  other.  He  bore  a  letter  from 
the  Landamman,  in  a  tone  of  courtesy  and  even  kindness, 
regretting  that  any  cause  should  have  occurred  for  bearing 
arms  against  his  late  guest,  for  whom  he  expressed  high 
personal  regard.  The  same  pursuivant  also  brought  greetings 
from  the  family  of  the  Biedermans  to  their  friend  Arthur,  and 
a  separate  letter,  addressed  to  the  same  person,  of  which  the 
contents  ran  thus  :  — 

'Rudolph  Donnerhugel  is  desirous  to  give  the  young  mer- 
chant, Arthur  Philipson,  the  opportunity  of  finishing  the  bargain 
which  remained  unsettled  between  them  in  the  castle-court  of 
Geierstein.  He  is  the  more  desirous  of  this,  as  he  is  aware 
that  the  said  Arthur  has  done  him  wrong,  in  seducing  the 
affections  of  a  certain  maiden  of  rank,  to  whom  he,  Philipson, 
is  not,  and  cannot  be,  anything  beyond  an  ordinary  acquaint- 
ance. Rudolph  Donnerhugel  will  send  Arthur  Philipson  word 
when  a  fair  and  equal  meeting  can  take  place  on  neutral  ground. 
In  the  meantime,  he  will  be  as  often  as  possible  in  the  first 
rank  of  the  skirmishers.' 

Young  Arthur's  heart  leapt  high  as  he  read  the  defiance, 
the  piqued  tone  of  which  showed  the  state  of  the  writer's 
feelings,  and  argued  sufficiently  Rudolph's  disappointment  on 
the  subject  of  Anne  of  Geierstein,  and  his  suspicion  that  she 
had  "bestowed  her  affections  on  the  youthful  stranger.  Arthur 
found  means  of  despatching  a  reply  to  the  challenge  of  the 
Swiss,  assuring  him  of  the  pleasure  with  which  he  would  attend 
his  commands,  either  in  front  of  the  line  or  elsewhere,  as 
Rudolph  might  desire. 

Meantime  the  armies  were  closely  approaching  to  each  other, 
and  the  light  troops  sometimes  met.  The  Stradiots  from  the 
Venetian  territory,  a  sort  of  cavalry  resembling  that  of  the 
Turks,  performed  much  of  that  service  on  the  part  of  the  Bur- 
gundian  army,  for  which,  indeed,  if  their  fidelity  could  have 
been  relied  on,  they  were  admirably  well  qualified.  The  Earl 
of  Oxford  observed,  that  these  men,  who  were  under  the  com- 
mand of  Campa-basso,  always  brought  in  intelligence  that 
the  enemy  were  in  indifferent  order  and  in  full  retreat.  Be- 
sides, information  was  communicated  through  their  means  that 
sundiT  individuals,  against  whom  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  enter- 
tained peculiar  personal  dislike,  and  whom  he  specially  de- 
sired to  get  into  his  hands,  had  taken  refuge  in  Nancy.     This 


ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN  443 

greatly  increased  the  Duke's  ardour  for  retaking  that  place, 
which  became  perfectly  ungovernable  when  he  learned  that 
Ferrand  and  his  Swiss  allies  had  drawn  off  to  a  neighbouring 
position  called  St.  Nicholas,  on  the  news  of  his  arrival.  The 
greater  part  of  the  Burgundian  counsellors,  together  with  the 
Earl  of  Oxford,  protested  against  his  besieging  a  place  of  some 
strength,  while  an  active  enemy  lay  in  the  neighbourhood  to 
relieve  it.  They  remonstrated  on  the  smallness  of  his  army, 
on  the  severity  of  the  weather,  on  the  difficulty  of  obtaining 
provisions,  and  exhorted  the  Duke,  that,  having  made  such  a 
movement  as  had  forced  the  enemy  to  retreat,  he  ought  to 
suspend  decisive  operations  till  spring.  Charles  at  first  tried 
to  dispute  and  repel  these  arguments ;  but  when  his  counsellors 
reminded  him  that  he  was  placing  himself  and  his  army  in  the 
same  situation  as  at  Granson  and  Murten,  he  became  furious  at 
the  recollection,  foamed  at  the  mouth,  and  only  answered  by 
oaths  and  imprecations  that  he  would  be  master  of  Nancy 
before  Twelfth  Day. 

Accordingly,  the  army  of  Burgundy  sat  down  before  Nancy, 
in  a  strong  position,  protected  by  the  hollow  of  a  watercourse, 
and  covered  with  thirty  pieces  of  cannon,  which  Colvin  had 
under  his  charge. 

Having  indulged  his  obstinate  temper  in  thus  arranging  the 
campaign,  the  Duke  seemed  to  give  a  little  more  heed  to  the 
advice  of  his  counsellors  touching  the  safety  of  his  person,  and 
permitted  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  with  his  son,  and  two  or  three 
officers  of  his  household,  men  of  approved  trust,  to  sleep  within 
his  pavilion,  in  addition  to  the  usual  guard. 

It  wanted  three  days  of  Christmas  when  the  Duke  sat  down 
before  Nancy,  and  on  that  very  evening  a  tumult  happened 
which  seemed  to  justify  the  alarm  for  his  personal  safety.  It 
was  midnight,  and  all  in  the  ducal  pavilion  were  at  rest,  when 
a  cry  of  treason  arose.  The  Earl  of  Oxford,  drawing  his  sword, 
and  snatching  up  a  light  which  burned  beside  him,  rushed  into 
the  Duke's  apartment,  and  found  him  standing  on  the  floor 
totally  undressed,  but  with  his  sword  in  his  hand,  and  striking 
around  him  so  furiously,  that  the  Earl  himself  had  difficulty  in 
avoiding  his  blows.  The  rest  of  his  officers  rushed  in,  their 
weapons  drawn,  and  their  cloaks  wrapped  around  their  left 
arms.  When  the  Duke  was  somewhat  composed,  and  found 
himself  surrounded  by  his  iriends,  he  informed  them,  with  rage 
and  agitation,  that  the  officers  of  the  Secret  Tribunal  had,  in 
spite  of  the  vigilant  precautions  taken,  found  means  to  gain 


444  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

entrance  into  his  chamber,  and  charged  him,  under  the  highest 
penalty,  to  appear  before  the  Holy  Vehme  upon  Christmas  night. 

The  bystanders  heard  this  story  with  astonishment,  and 
some  of  them  were  uncertain  whether  they  ought  to  consider 
it  as  a  reality  or  a  dream  of  the  Duke's  irritable  fancy.  But 
the  citation  was  found  on  the  Duke's  toilette,  written,  as  was 
the  form,  upon  parchment,  signeted  with  three  crosses,  and 
stuck  to  the  table  with  a  knife.  A  slip  of  wood  had  been  also 
cut  from  the  table.  Oxford  read  the  summons  with  attention. 
It  named,  as  usual,  a  place,  where  the  Duke  was  cited  to  come 
unarmed  and  unattended,  and  from  which  it  was  said  he  would 
be  guided  to  the  seat  of  judgment. 

Charles,  after  looking  at  the  scroll  for  some  time,  gave  vent 
to  his  thoughts. 

*  I  know  from  what  quiver  this  arrow  comes,'  he  said.  '  It 
is  shot  by  that  degenerate  noble,  apostate  priest,  and  accom- 
plice of  sorcerers,  Albert  of  Geierstein.  We  have  heard  that 
he  is  among  the  motley  group  of  murderers  and  outlaws  whom 
the  old  fiddler  of  Provence's  grandson  has  raked  together. 
But,  by  St.  George  of  Burgundy !  neither  monk's  cowl,  soldier's 
casque,  nor  conjurer's  cap  shall  save  him  after  such  an  insult 
as  this.  I  wiU  degrade  him  from  knighthood,  hang  him  from 
the  highest  steeple  in  Nancy,  and  his  daughter  shall  choose 
between  the  meanest  herd-boy  in  my  army  and  the  convent 
oi  filles  repentees.' 

'Whatever  are  your  purposes,  my  lord,' said  Contay,  'it 
were  surely  best  be  silent,  when,  from  this  late  apparition,  we 
may  conjecture  that  more  than  we  wot  of  may  be  within 
hearing.' 

The  Duke  seemed  struck  with  this  hint,  and  was  silent,  or 
at  least  only  muttered  oaths  and  threats  betwixt  his  teeth, 
while  the  strictest  search  was  made  for  the  intruder  on  his 
repose.     But  it  was  in  vain. 

Charles  continued  his  researches,  incensed  at  a  flight  of 
audacity  higher  than  ever  had  been  ventured  upon  hy  these 
Secret  Societies,  who,  whatever  might  be  the  dread  inspired  by 
them,  had  not  as  yet  attempted  to  cope  with  sovereigns.  A 
trusty  party  of  Burgundians  were  sent  on  Christmas  night  to 
watch  the  spot  (a  meeting  of  four  cross  roads),  named  in  the 
summons,  and  make  prisoners  of  any  whom  they  could  lay 
hands  upon ;  but  no  suspicious  persons  appeared  at  or  near  the 

Elace.     The  Duke  not  the  less  continued  to  impute  the  affront 
e  had  received  to  Albert  of  Geierstein.    There  was  a  price  set 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  445 

upon  his  head ;  and  Campo-hasso,  always  willing  to  please  his 
master's  mood,  undertook  that  some  of  his  Italians,  sufficiently 
experienced  in  such  feats,  should  bring  the  obnoxious  baron 
before  him,  alive  or  dead.  Colvin,  Contay,  and  others  laughed 
in  secret  at  the  Italian's  promises. 

'Subtle  as  he  is,'  said  Colvin,  'he  will  lure  the  wild  vulture 
from  the  heavens  before  he  gets  Albert  of  Geierstein  into  his 
power.' 

Arthur,  to  whom  the  words  of  the  Duke  had  given  subject 
for  no  small  anxiety,  on  account  of  Anne  of  Geierstein,  and  of 
her  father  for  her  sake,  breathed  more  lightly  on  hearing  his 
menaces  held  so  cheaply. 

It  was  the  second  day  after  this  alarm  that  Oxford  felt  a 
desire  to  reconnoitre  the  camp  of  Ferrand  of  Lorraine,  having 
some  doubts  whether  the  strength  and  position  of  it  were 
accurately  reported.  He  obtained  the  Duke's  consent  for  this 
purpose,  who  at  the  same  time  made  him  and  his  son  a  present 
of  two  noble  steeds  of  great  power  and  speed,  which  he  himself 
highly  valued. 

So  soon  as  the  Duke's  pleasure  was  communicated  to  the 
Italian  Count,  he  expressed  the  utmost  joy  that  he  was  to  have 
the  assistance  of  Oxford's  age  and  experience  upon  an  explora- 
tory party,  and  selected  a  chosen  band  of  a  hundred  Stradiots, 
whom  he  said  he  had  sent  sometimes  to  skirmish  up  to  the 
very  beards  of  the  Switzers.  The  Earl  showed  himself  much 
satisfied  with  the  active  and  intelligent  manner  in  which  these 
men  performed  their  duty,  and  drove  before  them  and  dispersed 
some  parties  of  Ferrand's  cavalry.  At  the  entrance  of  a  little 
ascending  valley,  Campo-basso  communicated  to  the  English 
noblemen  that,  if  they  could  advance  to  the  farther  extremity, 
they  would  have  a  fuU  view  of  the  enemy's  position.  Two  or 
three  Stradiots  then  spurred  on  to  examine  this  defile,  and, 
returning  back,  communicated  with  their  leader  in  their  own 
language,  who,  pronouncing  the  passage  safe,  invited  the  Earl 
of  Oxford  to  accompany  him.  They  proceeded  through  the 
valley  without  seeing  an  enemy,  but,  on  issuing  upon  a  plane  at 
the  point  intimated  by  Campo-basso,  Arthur,  who  was  in  the 
van  of  the  Stradiots,  and  separated  from  his  father,  did  indeed 
see  the  camp  of  Duke  Ferrand  within  half  a  mile's  distance ;  but 
a  body  of  cavalry  had  that  instant  issued  from  it,  and  were 
riding  hastily  towards  the  gorge  of  the  vaUey,  from  which  he 
had  just  emerged.  He  was  about  to  wheel  his  horse  and  ride 
off,  but,  conscious  of  the  great  speed  of  the  animal,  he  thought 


446  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

he  might  venture  to  stay  for  a  moment's  more  accurate  survey 
of  the  camp.  The  Stradiots  who  attended  him  did  not  wait  his 
orders  to  retire,  but  went  off,  as  was  indeed  their  duty,  when 
attacked  by  a  superior  force. 

Meantime,  Arthur  observed  that  the  knight  who  seemed 
leader  of  the  advancing  squadron,  mounted  on  a  powerful  horse 
that  shook  the  earth  beneath  him,  bore  on  his  shield  the  Bear 
of  Berne,  and  had  otherwise  the  appearance  of  the  massive 
frame  of  Rudolph  Donnerhugel.  He  was  satisfied  of  this  when 
he  beheld  the  cavalier  halt  his  party  and  advance  towards  him 
alone,  patting  his  lance  in  rest,  and  moving  slowly,  as  if  to  give 
him  time  for  preparation.  To  accept  such  a  challenge,  in  such 
a  moment,  was  dangerous,  but  to  refuse  it  was  disgraceful ;  and 
while  Arthur's  blood  boiled  at  the  idea  of  chastising  an  insolent 
rival,  he  was  not  a  little  pleased  at  heart  that  their  meeting  on 
horseback  gave  him  an  advantage  over  the  Swiss,  through  his 
perfect  acquaintance  with  the  practice  of  the  tourney,  in  which 
Rudolph  might  be  supposed  more  ignorant. 

They  met,  as  was  the  phrase  of  the  time,  'manful  under 
shield.'  The  lance  of  the  Swiss  glanced  from  the  helmet  of  the 
Englishman,  against  which  it  was  addressed,  while  the  spear  of 
Arthur,  directed  right  against  the  centre  of  his  adversary's 
body,  was  so  justly  aimed,  and  so  truly  seconded  by  the  full 
fury  of  the  career,  as  to  pierce,  not  only  the  shield  which  hung 
round  the  ill-fated  warrior's  neck,  but  a  breastplate,  and  a  shirt 
of  mail  which  he  wore  beneath  it.  Passing  clear  through  the 
body,  the  steel  point  of  the  weapon  was  only  stopped  by  the 
back-piece  of  the  unfortunate  cavalier,  who  fell  headlong  from 
his  horse,  as  if  struck  by  lightning,  rolled  twice  or  thrice  over 
on  the  ground,  tore  the  earth  with  his  hands,  and  then  lay 
prostrate  a  dead  corpse. 

There  was  a  cry  of  rage  and  grief  among  those  men-at-arms 
whose  ranks  Rudolph  had  that  instant  left,  and  many  couched 
their  lances  to  avenge  him ;  but  Ferrand  of  Lorraine,  who  was 

g resent  in  person,  ordered  them  to  make  prisoner,  but  not  to 
arm,  the  successful  champion.  This  was  accomplished,  for 
Arthur  had  not  time  to  turn  his  bridle  for  flight,  and  resistance 
would  have  been  madness. 

When  brought  before  Ferrand,  he  raised  his  visor,  and  said, 
*  Is  it  well,  my  lord,  to  make  captive  an  adventurous  knight 
for  doing  his  devoir  against  a  personal  challenger?' 

*  Do  not  complain,  Sir  Arthur  of  Oxford,'  said  Ferrand,  *  before 
you  experience  injury.    You  are  free,  sir  knight.    Your  father 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  447 

and  you  were  faithful  to  my  royal  aunt  Margaret,  and,  although 
she  was  my  enemy,  I  do  justice  to  your  fidelity  in  her  behalf; 
and  from  respect  to  her  memory,  disinherited  as  she  was  like 
myself,  and  to  please  my  grandfather,  who  I  think  had  some 
regard  for  you,  I  give  you  your  freedom.  But  I  must  also  care 
for  your  safety  during  your  return  to  the  camp  of  Burgundy. 
On  this  side  of  the  hill  we  are  loyal  and  true-hearted  men  ;  on 
the  other  they  are  traitors  and  murderers.  You,  sir  count, 
will,  I  think,  gladly  see  our  captive  placed  in  safety.' 

The  knight  to  whom  Ferrand  addressed  himself,  a  tall  stately 
man,  put  himself  in  motion  to  attend  on  Arthur,  while  the  former 
was  expressing  to  the  young  Duke  of  Lorraine  the  sense  he 
entertained  of  his  chivalrous  conduct.  *  Farewell,  Sir  Arthur  de 
Vere,'  said  Ferrand.  '  You  have  slain  a  noble  champion,  and  to 
me  a  most  useful  and  faithful  friend.  But  it  was  done  nobly 
and  openly,  with  equal  arms,  and  in  the  front  of  the  line  ;  and 
evil  befall  him  who  entertains  feud  first ! '  Arthur  bowed  to 
his  saddle-bow.  Ferrand  returned  the  salutation,  and  they 
parted. 

Arthur  and  his  new  companion  had  ridden  but  a  little  way 
up  the  ascent,  when  the  stranger  spoke  thus  :  — 

'  We  have  been  fellow-travellers  before,  young  man,  yet  you 
remember  me  not.' 

Arthur  turned  his  eyes  on  the  cavalier,  and,  observing  that 
the  crest  which  adorned  his  helmet  was  fashioned  like  a  vulture, 
strange  suspicions  began  to  cross  his  mind,  which  were  confirmed 
when  the  knight,  opening  his  helmet,  showed  him  the  dark  and 
severe  features  of  the  priest  of  St.  Paul's. 

*  Count  Albert  of  Geierstein  ! '  said  Arthur. 

'  The  same,'  replied  the  Count,  '  though  thou  hast  seen  him 
in  other  garb  and  head-gear.  But  tyranny  drives  all  men  to 
arms,  and  I  have  resumed,  by  the  license  and  command  of  my 
superiors,  those  which  I  had  laid  aside.  A  war  against  cruelty 
and  oppression  is  holy  as  that  waged  in  Palestine,  in  which 
priests  bear  armour.' 

*  My  Lord  Count,'  said  Arthur,  eagerly,  '  I  cannot  too  soon 
entreat  you  to  withdraw  to  Sir  Ferrand  of  Lorraine's  squadron. 
Here  you  are  in  peril,  where  no  strength  or  courage  can  avail 
you.  The  Duke  has  placed  a  price  on  your  head;  and  the 
country  betwixt  this  and  Nancy  swarms  with  Stradiots  and 
Italian  light  horsemen.' 

'  I  laugh  at  them,'  answered  the  Count.  '  I  have  not  lived  so 
long  in  a  stormy  world,  amid  intrigues  of  war  and  policy,  to  fall 


448  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

by  the  mean  hand  of  such  as  they ;  besides,  thou  art  with  me, 
and  I  have  seen  but  now  that  thou  canst  bear  thee  nobly.' 

*  In  your  defence,  my  lord,'  said  Arthur,  who  thought  of  his 
companion  as  the  father  of  Anne  of  Geierstein,  *  I  should  try 
to  do  my  best.' 

*  What,  youth ! '  replied  Count  Albert  with  a  stern  sneer 
that  was  peculiar  to  his  countenance ;  '  wouldst  thou  aid  the 
enemy  of  the  lord  under  whose  banner  thou  servest  against  his 
waged  soldiers  V 

Arthur  was  somewhat  abashed  at  the  turn  given  to  his 
ready  offer  of  assistance,  for  which  he  had  expected  at  least 
thanks;  but  he  instantly  collected  himself,  and  replied,  'My 
Lord  Count  Albert,  you  have  been  pleased  to  put  yourself  in 
peril  to  protect  me  from  partizans  of  your  party ;  I  am  equally 
bound  to  defend  you  from  those  of  our  side.' 

*  It  is  happily  answered,'  said  the  count ;  '  yet  I  think  there 
is  a  little  blind  partizan,  of  whom  troubadours  and  minstrels 
talk,  to  whose  instigation  I  might,  in  case  of  need,  owe  the 
great  zeal  of  my  protector.' 

He  did  not  allow  Arthur,  who  was  a  good  deal  embarrassed, 
time  to  reply,  but  proceeded  — '  Hear  me,  young  man.  Thy 
lance  has  this  day  done  an  evil  deed  to  Switzerland,  to  Berne, 
and  Duke  Ferrand,  in  slaying  their  bravest  champion.  But  to 
me  the  death  of  Rudolph  Donnerhugel  is  a  welcome  event. 
Know  that  he  was,  as  his  services  grew  more  indispensable, 
become  importunate  in  requiring  Duke  Ferrand's  interest  with 
me  for  my  daughter's  hand.  And  the  Duke  himself,  the  son  of 
a  princess,  blushed  not  to  ask  me  to  bestow  the  last  of  my 
house  —  for  my  brother's  family  are  degenerate  mongrels  —  upon 
a  presumptuous  young  man,  whose  uncle  was  a  domestic  in  the 
house  of  my  wife's  father,  though  they  boasted  some  relation- 
ship, I  believe,  through  an  illegitimate  channel,  which  yonder 
Rudolph  was  wont  to  make  the  most  of,  as  it  favoured  his  suit.' 

'Surely,'  said  Arthur,  *a  match  with  one  so  unequal  in 
birth,  and  far  more  in  every  other  respect,  was  too  monstrous 
to  be  mentioned  1 ' 

'While  I  lived,'  replied  Count  Albert,  'never  should  such 
union  have  been  formed,  if  the  death  both  of  bride  and  bride- 
groom by  my  dagger  could  have  saved  the  honour  of  my  house 
from  violation.  But  when  I  —  I  whose  days,  whose  very  hours 
are  numbered  —  shall  be  no  more,  what  could  prevent  an  un- 
daunted suitor,  fortified  by  Duke  Ferrand's  favour,  by  the 
general  applause  of  his  country,  and  perhaps  by  the  unfortunate 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  449 

prepossession  of  my  brother  Arnold,  from  carrying  his  point 
against  the  resistance  and  scruples  of  a  solitary  maiden  ? ' 

*  Rudolph  is  dead,'  replied  Arthur,  *  and  may  Heaven  assoilzie 
him  from  guilt!  But  were  he  alive,  and  urging  his  suit  on 
Anne  of  Geierstein,  he  would  find  there  was  a  combat  to  be 
fought ' 

*  Which  has  been  already  decided,'  answered  Count  Albert. 
'  Now,  mark  me,  Arthur  de  Vere  !  My  daughter  has  told  me 
of  the  passages  betwixt  you  and  her.  Your  sentiments  and 
conduct  are  worthy  of  the  noble  house  you  descend  from,  which 
I  well  know  ranks  with  the  most  illustrious  in  Europe.  You 
are  indeed  disinherited,  but  so  is  Anne  of  Geierstein,  save  such 
pittance  as  her  uncle  may  impart  to  her  of  her  paternal  inherit- 
ance. If  you  share  it  together  till  better  days  —  always  sup- 
posing your  noble  father  gives  his  consent,  for  my  child  shall 
enter  no  house  against  the  will  of  its  head  —  my  daughter 
knows  that  she  has  my  willing  consent  and  my  blessing.  My 
brother  shall  also  know  my  pleasure.     He  will  approve  my 

Eurpose ;  for,  though  dead  to  thoughts  of  honour  and  chivalry, 
e  is  alive  to  social  feelings,  loves  his  niece,  and  has  friendship 
for  thee  and  for  thy  father.  What  say'st  thou,  young  man,  to 
taking  a  beggarly  countess  to  aid  thee  in  the  journey  of  life  1 
I  believe  —  nay,  I  prophesy,  for  I  stand  so  much  on  the  edge  of 
the  grave  that  methinks  I  command  a  view  beyond  it,  that  a 
lustre  will  one  day,  after  I  have  long  ended  my  doubtful  and 
stormy  life,  beam  on  the  coronets  of  De  Vere  and  Geierstein.' 

De  Vere  threw  himself  from  his  horse,  clasped  the  hand  of 
Count  Albert,  and  was  about  to  exhaust  himself  in  thanks ; 
but  the  Count  insisted  on  his  silence. 

'We  are  about  to  part,'  he  said.  *The  time  is  short,  the 
place  is  dangerous.  You  are  to  me,  personally  speaking,  less 
than  nothing.  Had  any  one  of  the  many  schemes  of  ambition 
which  I  have  pursued  led  me  to  success,  the  son  of  a  banished 
earl  had  not  been  the  son-in-law  I  had  chosen.  Rise  and 
remount  your  horse  ;  thanks  are  unpleasing  when  they  are  not 
merited.' 

Arthur  arose,  and,  mounting  his  horse,  threw  his  raptures 
into  a  more  acceptable  form,  endeavouring  to  describe  how  his 
love  for  Anne,  and  efforts  for  her  happiness,  should  express  his 
gratitude  to  her  father ;  and,  observing  that  the  Count  listened 
with  some  pleasure  to  the  picture  he  drew  of  their  future  life, 
he  could  not  help  exclaiming,  'And  you,  my  lord  —  you  who 
have  been  the  author  of  all  this  happiness,  will  you  not  be  the 
VOL.  XXIII — 29 


450  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

witness  and  partaker  of  it  ?  Believe  me,  we  will  strive  to  soften 
the  effect  of  the  hard  blows  which  fortune  has  dealt  to  you, 
and  should  a  ray  of  better  luck  shine  upon  us,  it  will  be  the 
more  welcome  that  you  can  share  it.' 

*  Forbear  such  folly,'  said  the  Count  Albert  of  Geierstein. 
*I  know  my  last  scene  is  approaching.  Hear  and  tremble. 
The  Duke  of  Burgundy  is  sentenced  to  die,  and  the  Secret  and 
Invisible  Judges,  who  doom  in  secret  and  avenge  in  secret, 
like  the  Deity,  have  given  the  cord  and  the  dagger  to  my 
hand.' 

*  Oh,  cast  from  you  these  vile  symbols ! '  exclaimed  Arthur, 
with  enthusiasm  —  *  let  them  find  butchers  and  common  stabbers 
to  do  such  an  office,  and  not  dishonour  the  noble  Lord  of 
Geierstein ! ' 

*  Peace,  foolish  boy,'  answered  the  Count.  *The  oath  by 
which  I  am  sworn  is  higher  than  that  clouded  sky,  more  deeply 
fixed  than  those  distant  mountains.  Nor  think  my  act  is 
that  of  an  assassin,  though  for  such  I  might  plead  the  Duke's 
own  example.  I  send  not  hirelings,  like  these  base  Stradiots, 
to  hunt  his  life,  without  imperilling  mine  own.  I  give  not 
his  daughter,  innocent  of  his  offences,  the  choice  betwixt  a 
disgraceful  marriage  and  a  discreditable  retreat  from  the  world. 
No,  Arthur  de  Vere,  I  seek  Charles  with  the  resolved  mind  of 
one  who,  to  take  the  life  of  an  adversary,  exposes  himself  to 
certain  death.' 

*I  pray  you  speak  no  farther  of  it,'  said  Arthur,  very 
anxiously.  *  Consider  I  serve  for  the  present  the  prince  whom 
you  threaten ' 

*And  art  bound,'  interrupted  the  Count,  *to  unfold  to  him 
what  I  tell  you.  I  desire  you  should  do  so ;  and  though  he 
hath  already  neglected  a  summons  of  the  Tribunal,  I  am  glad 
to  have  this  opportunity  of  sending  him  personal  defiance.  Say 
to  Charles  of  Burgundy,  that  he  has  wronged  Albert  of  Geierstein. 
He  who  is  injured  in  his  honour  loses  aU  value  for  his  life,  and 
whoever  does  so  has  full  command  over  that  of  another  man. 
Bid  him  keep  himself  well  from  me,  since,  if  he  see  a  second  sun 
of  the  approaching  year  rise  over  the  distant  Alps,  Albert  of 
Geierstein  is  forsworn.  And  now  begone,  for  I  see  a  party 
approach  under  a  Burgundian  banner.  They  will  ensure  your 
safety,  but,  should  I  remain  longer,  would  endanger  mine.' 

So  saying,  the  Count  of  Geierstein  turned  his  horse  and  rode 
ofL 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

Faint  the  din  of  battle  bray'd 

Distant  down  the  heavy  wind ; 
"War  and  terror  tied  before, 

"Wounds  and  death  were  left  behind. 

MiCKLE. 

A  ETHUR,  left  alone,  and  desirous  perhaps  to  cover  the 

/-\  retreat  of  Count  Albert,  rode  towards  the  approaching 
-A.  jL  body  of  Burgundian  cavalry,  who  were  arrayed  under 
the  Lord  Contay's  banner. 

'Welcome  —  welcome,'  said  that  nobleman,  advancing  has- 
tily to  the  young  knight.  '  The  Duke  of  Burgundy  is  a  mile 
hence,  with  a  body  of  horse  to  support  the  reconnoitring  party. 
It  is  not  half  an  hour  since  your  father  galloped  up,  and  stated 
that  you  had  been  led  into  an  ambuscade  by  the  treachery  of 
the  Stradiots,  and  made  prisoner.  He  has  impeached  Campo- 
basso  of  treason,  and  challenged  him  to  the  combat.  They  have 
both  been  sent  to  the  camp,  under  charge  of  the  grand  marshal, 
to  prevent  their  fighting  on  the  spot,  though  I  think  our  Italian 
showed  little  desire  to  come  to  blows.  The  Duke  holds  their 
gages,  and  they  are  to  fight  upon  Twelfth  Day.' 

'  I  doubt  that  day  will  never  dawn  for  some  who  look  for  it,' 
said  Arthur ;  '  but  if  it  do,  I  will  myself  claim  the  combat,  by 
my  father's  permission.' 

He  then  turned  with  Contay,  and  met  a  still  larger  body  of 
cavalry  under  the  Duke's  broad  banner.  He  was  instantly 
brought  before  Charles.  The  Duke  heard,  with  some  apparent 
anxiety,  Arthur's  support  of  his  father's  accusations  against  the 
Italian,  in  whose  favour  he  was  so  deeply  prejudiced.  When 
assured  that  the  Stradiots  had  been  across  the  hiU,  and  com- 
municated with  their  leader  just  before  he  encouraged  Arthur 
to  advance,  as  it  proved,  into  the  midst  of  an  ambush,  the  Duke 
shook  his  head,  lowered  his  shaggy  brows,  and  muttered  to  him- 
self—  '111  will  to  Oxford,  perhaps  —  these  Italians  are  vindic- 
tive/   Then  raising  his  head,  he  commanded  Arthur  to  proceed. 


452  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

He  heard  with  a  species  of  ecstasy  the  death  of  Rudolph 
Donnerhugel,  and,  taking  a  ponderous  gold  chain  from  his  own 
neck,  flung  it  over  Arthur's. 

*  Why,  thou  hast  forestalled  all  our  honours,  young  Arthur  : 
this  was  the  biggest  bear  of  them  all :  the  rest  are  but  suckling 
whelps  to  him.  I  think  I  have  found  a  youthful  David  to 
match  their  huge  thick-headed  Goliath.  But  the  idiot,  to  think 
his  peasant  hand  could  manage  a  lance  !  Well,  my  brave  boy, 
what  more?  How  camest  thou  off?  By  some  wily  device  or 
agile  stratagem,  I  warrant.' 

'  Pardon  me,  my  lord,'  answered  Arthur.  *  I  was  protected 
by  their  chief,  Ferrand,  who  considered  my  encounter  with 
Rudolph  Donnerhugel  as  a  personal  duel ;  and  desirous  to  use 
fair  war,  as  he  said,  dismissed  me  honourably,  with  my  horse 
and  arms.' 

'  Umph ! '  said  Charles,  his  bad  humour  returning ;  *  your 
Prince  Adventurer  must  play  the  generous.  Umph  —  well,  it 
belongs  to  his  part,  but  shall  not  be  a  line  for  me  to  square  my 
conduct  by.     Proceed  with  your  story,  Sir  Arthur  de  Vere.' 

As  Arthur  proceeded  to  tell  how,  and  under  what  circum- 
stances, Count  Albert  of  Geierstein  named  himself  to  him,  the 
Duke  fiked  on  him  an  eager  look,  and  trembled  with  impatience 
as  he  fiercely  interrupted  him  with  the  question  —  *  And  you  — 
you  struck  him  with  your  poniard  under  the  fifth  rib,  did  you 
not?' 

'  I  did  not,  my  Lord  Duke ;  we  were  pledged  in  mutual  assur- 
ance to  each  other.' 

'  Yet  you  knew  him  to  be  my  mortal  enemy  ? '  said  the  Duke. 
*  Go,  young  man,  thy  lukewarm  indifference  has  cancelled  thy 
merit.  The  escape  of  Albert  of  Geierstein  hath  counterbalanced 
the  death  of  Rudolph  Donnerhugel.' 

'Be  it  so,  my  lord,'  said  Arthur,  boldly.  'I  neither  claim 
your  praises  nor  deprecate  your  censure.  I  had  to  move  me 
in  either  case  motives  personal  to  myself:  Donnerhugel  was 
my  enemy,  and  to  Count  Albert  I  owe  some  kindness.' 

The  Burgundian  nobles  who  stood  around  were  terrified  for 
the  effect  of  this  bold  speech.  But  it  was  never  possible  to 
guess  with  accuracy  how  such  things  would  affect  Charles.  He 
looked  around  him  with  a  laugh.  *  Hear  you  this  English  cock- 
erel, my  lords ;  what  a  note  will  he  one  day  sound,  that  already 
crows  so  bravely  in  a  prince's  presence  ? ' 

A  few  horsemen  now  came  in  from  different  quarters,  re- 
counting that  the  Duke  Ferrand  and  his  company  had  retired 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  453 

into  their  encampment,   and  the  country  was  clear  of  the 
enemy. 

*  Let  us  then  draw  back  also,'  said  Charles,  'since  there  is 
no  chance  of  breaking  spears  to-day.  And  thou,  Arthur  de 
Vere,  attend  me  closely.' 

Arrived  at  the  Duke's  pavilion,  Arthur  underwent  an  ex- 
amination, in  which  he  said  nothing  of  Anne  of  Geierstein,  or 
her  father's  designs  concerning  him,  with  which  he  considered 
Charles  as  having  nothing  to  do ;  but  he  frankly  conveyed  to 
him  the  personal  threats  which  the  Count  had  openly  used. 
The  Duke  listened  with  more  temper,  and  when  he  heard  the 
expression,  *  That  a  man  who  is  desperate  of  his  own  life  might 
command  that  of  any  other  person,'  he  said,  '  But  there  is  a 
life  beyond  this,  in  which  he  who  is  treacherously  murdered 
and  his  base  and  desperate  assassin  shall  each  meet  their 
deserts.'  He  then  took  from  his  bosom  a  gold  cross,  and  kissed 
it,  with  much  appearance  of  devotion.  '  In  this,'  said  he,  '  I 
will  place  my  trust.  If  I  fail  in  this  world,  may  I  find  grace 
in  the  next.  Ho,  sir  marshal ! '  he  exclaimed.  '  Let  your 
prisoners  attend  us.' 

The  marshal  of  Burgundy  entered  with  the  Earl  of  Oxford, 
and  stated  that  his  other  prisoner,  Campo-basso,  had  desired  so 
earnestly  that  he  might  be  suffered  to  go  and  post  his  sentinels 
on  that  part  of  the  camp  entrusted  to  the  protection  of  his 
troops,  that  he,  the  marshal,  had  thought  fit  to  comply  with 
his  request. 

*  It  is  well,'  said  Burgundy,  without  further  remark.  *  Then 
to  you,  my  Lord  Oxford,  I  would  present  your  son,  had  you 
not  already  locked  him  in  your  arms.  He  has  won  great  los 
and  honour,  and  done  me  brave  service.  This  is  a  period  of 
the  year  when  good  men  forgive  their  enemies.  I  know  not 
why  —  my  mind  was  little  apt  to  be  charged  with  such  matters 
—  but  I  feel  an  unconquerable  desire  to  stop  the  approaching 
combat  betwixt  you  and  Campo-basso.  For  my  sake,  consent 
to  be  friends,  and  to  receive  back  your  gage  of  battle,  and  let 
me  conclude  this  year  —  perhaps  the  last  I  may  see  —  with  a 
deed  of  peace.' 

'My  lord,'  said  Oxford,  'it  is  a  small  thing  you  ask  of  me, 
since  your  request  only  enforces  a  Christian  duty.  I  was 
enraged  at  the  loss  of  my  son.  I  am  grateful  to  Heaven  and 
your  Grace  for  restoring  him.  To  be  friends  with  Campo-basso 
is  to  me  impossible.  Faith  and  treason,  truth  and  falsehood, 
might  as  soon  shake  hands  and  embrace.     But  the  Italian  shall 


454  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

be  to  me  no  more  than  he  has  been  before  this  rupture ;  and 
that  is  literally  nothing.  I  put  my  honour  in  your  Grace's 
hands ;  if  he  receives  back  his  gage,  I  am  willing  to  receive 
mine.  John  de  Vere  needs  not  be  apprehensive  that  the  world 
will  suppose  that  he  fears  Campo-basso.' 

The  Duke  returned  sincere  thanks,  and  detained  the  officers 
to  spend  the  evening  in  his  tent.  His  manners  seemed  to 
Arthur  to  be  more  placid  than  he  had  ever  seen  them  before, 
while  to  the  Earl  of  Oxford  they  recalled  the  earlier  days  in 
which  their  intimacy  commenced,  ere  absolute  power  and 
unbounded  success  had  spoiled  Charles's  rough  but  not  un- 
generous disposition.  The  Duke  ordered  a  distribution  of 
provisions  and  wine  to  the  soldiers,  and  expressed  an  anxiety 
about  their  lodgings,  the  cure  of  the  wounded,  and  the  health 
of  the  army,  to  which  he  received  only  unpleasing  answers. 
To  some  of  his  counsellors,  apart,  he  said,  '  Were  it  not  for  our 
vow,  we  would  relinquish  this  purpose  till  spring,  when  our 
poor  soldiers  might  take  the  field  with  less  of  suffering.' 

Nothing  else  remarkable  appeared  in  the  Duke's  manner, 
save  that  he  inquired  repeatedly  after  Campo-basso,  and  at 
length  received  accounts  that  he  was  indisposed,  and  that  his 
physician  had  recommended  rest;  he  had  therefore  retired  to 
repose  himself,  in  order  that  he  might  be  stirring  on  his  duty 
at  peep  of  day,  the  safety  of  the  camp  depending  much  on  his 
vigilance. 

The  Duke  made  no  observation  on  the  apology,  which  he 
considered  as  indicating  some  lurking  disinclination  on  the 
Italian's  part  to  meet  Oxford.  The  guests  at  the  ducal  pavilion 
were  dismissed  an  hour  before  midnight. 

When  Oxford  and  his  son  were  in  their  own  tent,  the  Earl 
fell  into  a  deep  reverie,  which  lasted  nearly  ten  minutes.  At 
length,  starting  suddenly  up,  he  said,  '  My  son,  give  orders  to 
Thiebault  and  thy  yeomen  to  have  our  horses  before  the  tent 
by  break  of  day,  or  rather  before  it ;  and  it  would  not  be  amiss 
if  you  ask  our  neighbour  Colvin  to  ride  along  with  us.  I  will 
visit  the  outposts  by  daybreak.' 

*  It  is  a  sudden  resolution,  my  lord,'  said  Arthur. 

*  And  yet  it  may  be  taken  too  late,'  said  his  father.  '  Had 
it  been  moonlight,  I  would  have  made  the  rounds  to-night.' 

'  It  is  as  dark  as  a  wolfs  throat,'  said  Arthur.  '  But  where- 
fore, my  lord,  can  this  night  in  particular  excite  your  appre- 
hensions ? ' 

*  Son  Arthur,  perhaps  you  will  hold  your  father  credulous. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  455 

But  my  nurse,  Martha  Nixon,  was  a  Northern  woman,  and  full 
of  superstitions.  In  particular,  she  was  wont  to  say  that  any 
sudden  and  causeless  change  of  a  man's  nature,  as  from  license 
to  sobriety,  from  temperance  to  indulgence,  from  avarice  to 
extravagance,  from  prodigality  to  love  of  money,  or  the  like, 
indicates  an  immediate  change  of  his  fortunes ;  that  some 
great  alteration  of  circumstances,  either  for  good  or  evil,  and 
for  evil  most  likely,  since  we  live  in  an  evil  world,  is  impending 
over  him  whose  disposition  is  so  much  altered.  This  old 
woman's  fancy  has  recurred  so  strongly  to  my  mind,  that  I  am 
determined  to  see  with  mine  own  eyes,  ere  to-morrow's  dawn, 
that  all  our  guards  and  patrols  around  the  camp  are  on  the 
alert.' 

Arthur  made  the  necessary  communications  to  Colvin  and 
to  Thiebault,  and  then  retired  to  rest. 

It  was  ere  daybreak  of  the  first  of  January  1477,  a  period 
long  memorable  for  the  events  which  marked  it,  that  the  Earl 
of  Oxford,  Colvin,  and  the  young  Englishman,  followed  only  by 
Thiebault  and  two  other  servants,  commenced  their  rounds  of 
the  Duke  of  Burgundy's  encampment.  For  the  greater  part 
of  their  progress,  they  found  sentinels  and  guards  all  on  the 
alert  and  at  their  posts.  It  was  a  bitter  morning.  The  ground 
was  partly  covered  with  snow,  that  snow  had  been  partly 
melted  by  a  thaw,  which  had  prevailed  for  two  days,  and  partly 
congealed  into  ice  by  a  bitter  frost,  which  had  commenced  the 
preceding  evening  and  still  continued.  A  more  dreary  scene 
could  scarcely  be  witnessed. 

But  what  were  the  surprise  and  alarm  of  the  Earl  of  Oxford 
and  his  companions,  when  they  came  to  that  part  of  the  camp 
which  had  been  occupied  the  day  before  by  Campo-basso  and 
his  Italians,  who,  reckoning  men-at-arms  and  Stradiots,  amounted 
to  nigh  two  thousand  men  —  not  a  challenge  was  given  —  not  a 
horse  neighed  —  no  steeds  were  seen  at  picquet  —  no  guard  on 
the  camp.  They  examined  several  of  the  tents  and  huts  —  they 
were  empty. 

'Let  us  back  to  alarm  the  camp,'  said  the  Earl  of  Oxford; 
*here  is  treachery.' 

'  Nay,  my  lord,'  said  Colvin,  *  let  us  not  carry  back  imperfect 
tidings.  I  have  a  battery  an  hundred  yards  in  advance, 
covering  the  access  to  this  hollow  way;  let  us  see  if  my 
German  cannoneers  are  at  their  post,  and  I  think  I  can  swear 
that  we  shall  find  them  so.  The  battery  commands  a  narrow 
pass,  by  which  alone  the  camp  can  be  approached,  and  if  my 


4i56  >       ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

men  are  at  their  duty,  I  will  pawn  my  life  that  we  make  the 
pass  good  till  you  bring  up  succours  from  the  main  body.' 

*  Forward,  then,  in  God's  name  ! '  said  the  Earl  of  Oxford. 
They  galloped,  at  every  risk,  over  broken  ground,  slippery 

with  ice  in  some  places,  encumbered  with  snow  in  others. 
They  came  to  the  cannon,  judiciously  placed  to  sweep  the 
pass,  which  rose  towards  the  artillery  on  the  outward  side^ 
and  then  descended  gently  from  the  battery  into  the  lower 
ground.  The  waning  winter  moon,  mingling  with  the  dawning 
light,  showed  them  that  the  guns  were  in  their  places,  but  no 
sentinel  was  visible. 

'  The  villains  cannot  have  deserted ! '  said  the  astonished 
Colvin.  'But  see,  there  is  light  in  their  cantonment.  Oh, 
that  unhallowed  distribution  of  wine !  Their  usual  sin  of 
drunkenness  has  beset  them.  I  will  soon  drive  them  from 
their  revelry.' 

He  sprung  from  his  horse,  and  rushed  into  the  tent  from 
whence  the  light  issued.  The  cannoneers,  or  most  of  them, 
were  still  there,  but  stretched  on  the  ground,  their  cups  and 
flagons  scattered  around  them  ;  and  so  drenched  were  they  in 
wassail,  that  Colvin  could  only,  by  commands  and  threats, 
awaken  two  or  three,  who,  staggering,  and  obeying  him  rather 
from  instinct  than  sense,  reeled  forward  to  man  the  battery. 
A  heavy  rushing  sound,  like  that  of  men  marching  fast,  was 
now  heard  coming  up  the  pass. 

*  It  is  the  roar  of  a  distant  avalanche,'  said  Arthur. 

'It  is  an  avalanche  of  Switzers,  not  of  snow,'  said  Colvin. 
'  Oh,  these  drunken  slaves  !  The  cannon  are  deeply  loaded  and 
well  pointed  ;  this  voUey  must  check  them  if  they  were  fiends, 
and  the  report  will  alarm  the  camp  sooner  than  we  can  do. 
But,  oh,  these  drunken  villains ! ' 

*  Care  not  for  their  aid,'  said  the  Earl :  'my  son  and  I  will 
each  take  a  linstock,  and  be  gunners  for  once.' 

They  dismounted,  and  bade  Thiebault  and  the  grooms  look 
to  the  horses,  while  the  Earl  of  Oxford  and  his  son  took  each  a 
linstock  from  one  of  the  helpless  gunners,  three  of  whom  were 
just  sober  enough  to  stand  by  their  guns. 

'  Bravo ! '  cried  the  bold  master  of  ordnance,  '  never  was  a 
battery  so  noble.  Now,  my  mates  —  your  pardon,  my  lords,  for 
there  is  no  time  for  ceremony  —  and  you,  ye  drunken  knaves, 
take  heed  not  to  fire  till  I  give  the  word,  and,  were  the  ribs  of 
these  tramplers  as  flinty  as  their  Alps,  they  shall  know  how  old 
Colvin  loads  his  guns.' 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  457 

They  stood  breathless,  each  by  his  cannon.  The  dreaded 
sound  approached  nearer  and  more  near,  till  the  imperfect  light 
showed  a  dark  and  shadowy,  but  dense,  column  of  men,  armed 
with  long  spears,  pole-axes,  and  other  weapons,  amidst  which 
banners  dimly  floated.  Colvin  suffered  them  to  approach  to  the 
distance  of  about  forty  yards,  and  then  gave  the  word,  '  Fire ! ' 
But  his  own  piece  alone  exploded ;  a  slight  flame  flashed  from 
the  touch-hole  of  the  others,  which  had  been  spiked  by  the 
Italian  deserters,  and  left  in  reality  disabled,  though  apparently 
fit  for  service.  Had  they  been  all  in  the  same  condition  with 
that  fired  by  Colvin,  they  would  probably  have  verified  his 
prophecy;  for  even  that  single  discharge  produced  an  awful 
effect,  and  made  a  long  lane  of  dead  and  wounded  through  the 
Swiss  column,  in  which  the  first  and  leading  banner  was 
struck  down. 

'Stand  to  it  yet,'  said  Colvin,  'and  aid  me  if  possible  to 
reload  the  piece.' 

For  this,  however,  no  time  was  allowed.  A  stately  form,  con- 
spicuous in  the  front  of  the  staggered  column,  raised  up  the  fallen 
banner,  and  a  voice  as  of  a  giant  exclaimed,  '  What,  countrymen  ! 
have  you  seen  Murten  and  Granson,  and  are  you  daunted  by  a 
single  gun  1  Berne  —  Uri  —  Schwytz  —  banners  forward !  Un- 
terwalden,  here  is  your  standard!  Cry  your  war-cries,  wind 
your  horns.     Unterwalden,  follow  your  Landaroman  ! ' 

They  rushed  on  like  a  raging  ocean,  with  a  roar  as  deafen- 
ing and  a  course  as  impetuous.  Colvin,  still  labouring  to  re- 
load his  gun,  was  struck  down  in  the  act.  Oxford  and  his  son 
were  overthrown  by  the  multitude,  the  closeness  of  which 
prevented  any  blows  being  aimed  at  them.  Arthur  partly 
saved  himself  by  getting  under  the  gun  he  was  posted  at; 
his  father,  less  fortunate,  was  much  trampled  upon,  and  must 
have  been  crushed  to  death  but  for  his  armour  of  proof  The 
human  inundation,  consisting  of  at  least  four  thousand  men, 
rushed  down  into  the  camp,  continuing  their  dreadful  shouts, 
soon  mingled  with  shrill  shrieks,  groans,  and  cries  of  alarm. 

A  broad  red  glare  rising  behind  the  assailants,  and  putting 
to  shame  the  pallid  lights  of  the  winter  morning,  first  recalled 
Arthur  to  a  sense  of  his  condition.  The  camp  was  on  fire  in 
his  rear,  and  resounded  with  all  the  various  shouts  of  conquest 
and  terror  that  are  heard  in  a  town  which  is  stormed.  Start- 
ing to  his  feet,  he  looked  around  him  for  his  father.  He 
lay  near  him  senseless,  as  were  the  gunners,  whose  condition 
prevented  their  attempting  an  escape.     Having  opened  his 


458  ANNE   OF   GEIERSTEIN 

father's  casque,  he  was  rejoiced  to  see  him  give  s3maptonis  ol 
reanimation. 

*  The  horses  —  the  horses  ! '  said  Arthur.  *  Thiebault,  where 
art  thou  ? ' 

'At  hand,  my  lord,'  said  that  trusty  attendant,  who  had 
saved  himself  and  his  charge  by  a  prudent  retreat  into  a  small 
thicket,  which  the  assailants  had  avoided  that  they  might  not 
disorder  their  ranks. 

'Where  is  the  gallant  Colvin?'  said  the  Earl;  'get  him  a 
horse,  I  will  not  leave  him  in  jeopardy.' 

'  His  wars  are  ended,  my  lord,'  said  Thiebault :  '  he  will 
never  mount  steed  more.' 

A  look  and  a  sigh  as  he  saw  Colvin,  with  the  ramrod  in  his 
hand,  before  the  muzzle  of  the  piece,  his  head  cleft  by  a  Swiss 
battle-axe,  was  all  the  moment  permitted. 

'Whither  must  we  take  our  course  1'  said  Arthur  to  his 
father. 

'To  join  the  Duke,'  said  the  Earl  of  Oxford.  'It  is  not  on 
a  day  like  this  that  I  will  leave  him.' 

'  So  please  you,'  said  Thiebault,  '  I  saw  the  Duke,  followed 
by  some  half-score  of  his  guards,  riding  at  full  speed  across  this 
hollow  watercourse,  and  making  for  the  open  country  to  the 
northward.     I  think  I  can  guide  you  on  the  track' 

'If  that  be  so,'  replied  Oxford,  'we  will  mount  and  follow 
him.  The  camp  has  been  assailed  on  several  places  at  once, 
and  all  must  be  over  since  he  has  fled.' 

With  difficulty  they  assisted  the  Earl  of  Oxford  to  his  horse, 
and  rode  as  fast  as  his  returning  strength  permitted  in  the 
direction  which  the  Provencal  pointed  out.  Their  other 
attendants  were  dispersed  or  slain. 

They  looked  back  more  than  once  on  the  camp,  now  one 
great  scene  of  conflagration,  by  whose  red  and  glaring  light 
they  could  discover  on  the  ground  the  traces  of  Charles's 
retreat.  About  three  miles  from  the  scene  of  their  defeat, 
the  sound  of  which  they  still  heard,  mingled  with  the  bells  of 
Nancy,  which  were  ringing  in  triumph,  they  reached  a  half- 
frozen  swamp,  round  which  lay  several  dead  bodies.  The  most 
conspicuous  was  that  of  Charles  of  Burgundy,^  once  the  possessor 
of  such  unlimited  power,  such  unbounded  wealth.  He  was 
partly  stripped  and  plundered,  as  were  those  who  lay  round 
nim.  His  body  was  pierced  with  several  wounds,  inflicted  by 
various  weapons.     Ilis  sword  was  still  in  his  hand,  and  the 

»  See  Charles  the  Bold.    Note  11. 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  459 

singular  ferocity  which  was  wont  to  animate  his  features  in 
battle  still  dwelt  on  his  stiffened  countenance.  Close  behind 
him,  as  if  they  had  fallen  in  the  act  of  mutual  fight,  lay  the 
corpse  of  Count  Albert  of  Geierstein  ;  and  that  of  Ital  Schreck- 
enwald,  the  faithful  though  unscrupulous  follower  of  the  latter, 
lay  not  far  distant.  Both  were  in  the  dress  of  the  men-at-arms 
composing  the  Duke's  guard,  a  disguise  probably  assumed  to 
execute  the  fatal  commission  of  the  Secret  Tribunal.  It  is 
supposed  that  a  party  of  the  traitor  Campo-basso's  men  had 
been  engaged  in  the  skirmish  in  which  the  Duke  fell,  for  six  or 
seven  of  them,  and  about  the  same  number  of  the  Duke's 
guards,  were  found  near  the  spot. 

The  Earl  of  Oxford  threw  himself  from  his  horse,  and 
examined  the  body  of  his  deceased  brother-in-arms  with  all 
the  sorrow  inspired  by  early  remembrance  of  his  kindness. 
But,  as  he  gave  way  to  the  feelings  inspired  by  so  melancholy 
an  example  of  the  fall  of  human  greatness,  Thiebault,  who  was 
looking  out  on  the  path  they  had  just  pursued,  exclaimed,  '  To 
horse,  my  lord  !  here  is  no  time  to  mourn  the  dead,  and  little 
to  save  the  living  —  the  Swiss  are  upon  us.' 

'  Fly  thyself,  good  fellow,'  said  the  Earl ;  '  and  do  thou, 
Arthur,  fiy  also,  and  save  thy  youth  for  happier  days.  I 
cannot  and  will  not  fly  farther.  I  will  render  me  to  the  pur- 
suers ;  if  they  take  me  to  grace,  it  is  well ;  if  not,  there  is  one 
above  that  will  receive  me  to  His.' 

'  I  will  not  fly,'  said  Arthur,  *  and  leave  you  defenceless  :  I 
will  stay  and  share  your  fate.' 

'And  I  will  remain  also,'  said  Thiebault;  *the  Switzers 
make  fair  war  when  their  blood  has  not  been  heated  by  much 
opposition,  and  they  have  had  little  enough  to-day.' 

The  party  of  Swiss  which  came  up  proved  to  be  Sigismund, 
with  his  brother  Ernest  and  some  of  the  youths  of  Unt^r- 
walden.  Sigismund  kindly  and  joyfully  received  them  to 
mercy ;  and  thus,  for  the  third  time,  rendered  Arthur  an  im- 
portant service,  in  return  for  the  kindness  he  had  expressed 
towards  him. 

*  I  will  take  you  to  my  father,'  said  Sigismund,  '  who  will  be 
right  glad  to  see  you  ;  only  that  he  is  ill  at  ease  just  now  for 
the  death  of  brother  Rudiger,  who  fell  with  the  banner  in  his 
hand,  by  the  only  cannon  that  was  fired  this  morning ;  the  rest 
could  not  bark  :  Campo-basso  had  muzzled  Colvin's  mastiffs,  or 
we  should  many  more  of  us  have  been  served  like  poor  Rudiger. 
But  Colvin  himself  is  killed.' 


460  ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN 

*  Campo-basso,  then,  was  in  your  correspondence  1 '  said 
Arthur. 

'  Not  in  ours  —  we  scorn  such  companions  —  but  some  dealing 
there  was  between  the  Italian  and  Duke  Ferrand ;  and  having 
disabled  the  cannon,  and  filled  the  German  gunners  soundly- 
drunk,  he  came  off  to  our  camp  with  fifteen  hundred  horse, 
and  offered  to  act  with  us.  "  But  no  —  no  !  "  said  my  father, 
"  traitors  come  not  into  our  Swiss  host " ;  and  so,  though  we 
walked  in  at  the  door  which  he  leffc  open,  we  would  not  have 
his  company.  So  he  marched  with  Duke  Ferrand  to  attack 
the  other  extremity  of  the  camp,  where  he  found  them  entrance 
by  announcing  them  as  the  return  of  a  reconnoitring  party.' 

*Nay,  then,'  said  Arthur,  *a  more  accomplished  traitor 
never  drew  breath,  nor  one  who  drew  his  net  with  such 
success.' 

'You  say  well,' answered  the  young  Swiss.  'The  Duke  will 
never,  they  say,  be  able  to  collect  another  army.' 

'Never,  young  man,'  said  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  'for  he  lies 
dead  before  you.' 

Sigismund  started;  for  he  had  an  inherent  respect,  and 
somewhat  of  fear,  for  the  lofty  name  of  Charles  the  Bold,  and 
could  hardly  believe  that  the  mangled  corpse  which  now  lay 
before  him  was  once  the  personage  he  had  been  taught  to 
dread.  But  his  surprise  was  mingled  with  sorrow  when  he  saw 
the  body  of  his  uncle.  Count  Albert  of  Geierstein. 

'  Oh,  my  uncle ! '  he  said  —  '  my  dear  uncle  Albert !  has  all 
your  greatness  and  your  wisdom  brought  you  to  a  death  at 
the  side  of  a  ditch,  like  any  crazed  beggar  ?  Come,  this  sad 
news  must  be  presently  told  to  my  father,  who  will  be  con- 
cerned to  hear  of  his  brother's  death,  which  will  add  gall  to 
bitterness,  coming  on  the  back  of  poor  Eudiger's.  It  is  some 
comfort,  however,  that  father  and  uncle  never  could  abide  each 
other.' 

With  some  difficulty  they  once  more  assisted  the  Earl  of 
Oxford  to  horseback,  and  were  proceeding  to  set  forward,  when 
the  English  lord  said,  'You  will  place  a  guard  here,  to  save 
these  bodies  from  farther  dishonour,  that  they  may  be  interred 
with  due  solemnity.' 

'By  Our  Lady  of  Einsiedlen !  I  thank  you  for  the  hint,' 
said  Sigismund.  '  Yes,  we  should  do  all  that  the  church  can 
for  uncle  Albert.  It  is  to  be  hoped  he  has  not  gambled  away 
his  soul  beforehand,  playing  with  Satan  at  odds  and  evens. 
I  would  we  had  a  priest  to  stay  by  his  poor  body ;  but  it 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  461 

matters  not,  since  no  one  ever  heard  of  a  demor  appearing 
just  before  breakfast.' 

They  proceeded  to  the  Landamman's  quarters,  through  sights 
and  scenes  which  Arthur,  and  even  his  father,  so  well  accustomed 
to  war  in  all  its  shapes,  could  not  look  upon  without  shudder- 
ing. But  the  simple  Sigismund,  as  he  walked  by  Arthur's  side, 
contrived  to  hit  upon  a  theme  so  interesting  as  to  divert  his 
sense  of  the  horrors  around  them. 

'  Have  you  farther  business  in  Burgundy,  now  this  Duke  of 
yours  is  at  an  end  ? ' 

*My  father  knows  best,'  said  Arthur;  *but  I  apprehend  we 
have  none.  The  Duchess  of  Burgundy,  who  must  now  succeed 
to  some  sort  of  authority  in  her  late  husband's  dominion, 
is  sister  to  this  Edward  of  York,  and  a  mortal  enemy  to  the 
house  of  Lancaster,  and  to  those  who  have  stood  by  it  faith- 
fully. It  were  neither  prudent  nor  safe  to  tarry  where  she  has 
influence.' 

'  In  that  case,'  said  Sigismund,  'my  plan  will  fadge  bravely. 
You  shall  go  back  to  Geierstein,  and  take  up  your  dwelling 
with  us.  Your  father  will  be  a  brother  to  mine,  and  a  better 
one  than  uncle  Albert,  whom  he  seldom  saw  or  spoke  with; 
while  with  your  father  he  will  converse  from  morning  till  night, 
and  leave  us  all  the  work  of  the  farm.  And  you,  Arthur  —  you 
shall  go  with  us,  and  be  a  brother  to  us  all,  in  place  of  poor 
Eudiger,  who  was,  to  be  sure,  my  real  brother,  which  you  can- 
not be.  Nevertheless,  I  did  not  like  him  so  well,  in  respect  he 
was  not  so  good-natured.  And  then  Anne  —  cousin  Anne  —  is 
left  all  to  my  father's  charge,  and  is  now  at  Geierstein ;  and 
you  know,  King  Arthur,  we  used  to  call  her  Queen  Guenever.' 

'  You  spoke  great  folly  then,'  said  Arthur. 

'  But  it  is  great  truth.  For,  look  you,  I  loved  to  tell  Anne 
tales  of  our  hunting,  and  so  forth ;  but  she  would  not  listen  a 
word  till  I  threw  in  something  of  King  Arthur,  and  then  I 
warrant  she  would  sit  still  as  a  heath-hen  when  the  hawk  is 
in  the  heavens.  And  now  Donnerhugel  is  slain,  you  know  you 
may  marry  my  cousin  when  you  and  she  will,  for  nobody  hath 
interest  to  prevent  it.' 

Arthur  blushed  with  pleasure  under  his  helmet,  and  almost 
forgave    that  new  year's  morning  all    its  complicated    dis- 


'You  forget,'  he  replied  to  Sigismund,  with  as  much  in- 
difference as  he  could  assume,  '  that  I  may  be  viewed  in  your 
country  with  prejudice  on  account  of  Rudolph's  death.' 


462  ANNE   OP  GEIERSTEIN 

*Not  a  whit — not  a  whit;  we  bear  no  malice  for  what  is 
done  in  fair  fight  under  shield.  It  is  no  more  than  if  you  had 
beat  him  in  wrestling  or  at  quoits,  only  it  is  a  game  cannot 
be  played  over  again.' 

They  now  entered  the  town  of  Nancy ;  the  windows  were 
hung  with  tapestry,  and  the  streets  crowded  with  tumultuous 
and  rejoicing  multitudes,  whom  the  success  of  the  battle  had 
relieved  from  great  alarm  for  the  formidable  vengeance  of 
Charles  of  Burgundy. 

The  prisoners  were  received  with  the  utmost  kindness  by 
the  Landamman,  who  assured  them  of  his  protection  and  friend- 
ship. He  appeared  to  support  the  death  of  his  son  Rudiger 
with  stem  resignation. 

'He  had  rather,'  he  said,  'his  son  fell  in  battle  than  that 
he  should  live  to  despise  the  old  simplicity  of  his  country,  and 
think  the  object  of  combat  was  the  gaining  of  spoil.  The  gold 
of  the  dead  Burgundy,'  he  added,  'would  injure  the  morals  of 
Switzerland  more  irretrievably  than  ever  his  sword  did  their 
bodies.' 

He  heard  of  his  brother's  death  without  surprise,  but 
apparently  with  emotion. 

'It  was  the  conclusion,'  he  said,  'of  a  long  tissue  of  am- 
•bitious  enterprises,  which  often  offered  fair  prospects,  but 
uniformly  ended  in  disappointment.' 

The  Landamman  farther  intimated,  that  his  brother  had 
apprised  him  that  he  was  engaged  in  an  affair  of  so  much 
danger  that  he  was  almost  certain  to  perish  in  it,  and  had 
bequeathed  his  daughter  to  her  uncle's  care,  with  instructions 
respecting  her. 

Here  they  parted  for  the  present,  but  shortly  after  the 
Landamman  inquired  earnestly  of  the  Earl  of  Oxford  what  his 
motions  were  like  to  be,  and  whether  he  could  assist  them. 

'  I  think  of  choosing  Bretagne  for  my  place  of  refuge,'  an- 
swered the  Earl,  *  where  my  wife  has  dwelt  since  the  battle  of 
Tewkesbury  expelled  us  from  England.' 

'  Do  not  so,'  said  the  kind  Landamman,  '  but  come  to  Geier- 
stein  with  the  Countess,  where,  if  she  can,  like  you,  endure  our 
mountain  manners  and  mountain  fare,  you  are  welcome,  as  to 
the  house  of  a  brother,  to  a  soil  where  neither  conspiracy  nor 
treason  ever  flourished.  Bethink  you,  the  Duke  of  Bretagne 
is  a  weak  prince,  entirely  governed  by  a  wicked  favourite,  Peter 
Landais.  He  is  as  capable  —  I  mean  the  minister  —  of  selling 
brave  men's  blood  as  a  butcher  of  selling  bullock's  flesh ;  and 


ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN  463 

you  know  there  are  those,  both  in  France  and  Burgundy,  that 
thirst  after  yours.' 

The  Earl  of  Oxford  expressed  his  thanks  for  the  proposal, 
and  his  determination  to  profit  by  it,  if  approved  of  by  Henry 
of  Lancaster,  Earl  of  Richmond,  whom  he  now  regarded  as  his 
sovereign. 

To  close  the  tale,  about  three  months  after  the  battle  of 
Nancy,  the  banished  Earl  of  Oxford  resumed  his  name  of 
Philipson,  bringing  with  his  lady  some  remnants  of  their  former 
wealth,  which  enabled  them  to  procure  a  conmiodious  residence 
near  to  Geierstein ;  and  the  Landamman's  interest  in  the  state 
procured  for  them  the  right  of  denizenship.  The  high  blood 
and  the  moderate  fortunes  of  Anne  of  Geierstein  and  Arthur 
de  Vere,  joined  to  their  mutual  inclination,  made  their  marriage 
in  every  respect  rational ;  and  Annette  with  her  bachelor  took 
up  their  residence  with  the  young  people,  not  as  servants,  but 
mechanical  aids  in  the  duties  of  the  farm ;  for  Arthur  continued 
to  prefer  the  chase  to  the  labours  of  husbandry,  which  was  of 
little  consequence,  as  his  separate  income  amounted,  in  that 
poor  country,  to  opulence.  Time  glided  on,  till  it  amounted 
to  five  years  since  the  exiled  family  had  been  inhabitants  of 
Switzerland.  In  the  year  1482,  the  Landamman  Biederman 
died  the  death  of  the  righteous,  lamented  universally,  as  a 
model  of  the  true  and  valiant,  simple-minded  and  sagacious 
chiefs  who  ruled  the  ancient  Switzers  in  peace,  and  headed 
them  in  battle.  In  the  same  year,  the  Earl  of  Oxford  lost  his 
noble  countess. 

But  the  star  of  Lancaster  at  that  period  began  again  to 
culminate,  and  called  the  banished  lord  and  his  son  from  their 
retirement,  to  mix  once  more  in  politics.  The  treasured  neck- 
lace of  Margaret  was  then  put  to  its  destined  use,  and  the 
produce  applied  to  levy  those  bands  which  shortly  after  fought 
the  celebrated  battle  of  Bosworth,  in  which  the  arms  of  Oxford 
and  his  son  contributed  so  much  to  the  success  of  Henry  VII. 
This  changed  the  destinies  of  De  Vere  and  his  lady.  Their 
Swiss  farm  was  conferred  on  Annette  and  her  husband ;  and 
the  manners  and  beauty  of  Anne  of  Geierstein  attracted  as 
much  admiration  at  the  English  court  as  formerly  in  the  Swiss 
chalet. 


NOTES   TO  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 


Note  1.  —  Double-gangebs,  p.  142 

Double- WALKEBS,  a  name  in  Germany  for  those  aerial  duplicates  of  human- 
ity who  represent  the  features  and  appearance  of  other  living  persons. 


Note  2.  —  Louis  XI/s  Ministebs,  p.  173 

Louis  XI.  was  probably  the  first  king  of  France  who  flung  aside  all 
affectation  of  choosing  his  ministers  from  among  the  nobility.  He  often 
placed  men  of  mean  birth  in  situations  of  the  highest  trust. 


Note  3.  —  Public  Executionee,  p.  199 

There  is  abundant  evidence  that  in  the  middle  ages  the  oflSce  of  public 
executioner  was  esteemed  highly  honourable  all  over  Germany.  It  still  is, 
in  such  parts  of  that  country  as  retain  the  old  custom  of  execution  by 
stroke  of  sword,  very  far  from  being  held  discreditable  to  the  extent  to 
which  we  carry  our  feelings  on  the  subject,  and  which  exposed  the  magis- 
trates of  a  Scotch  town,  I  rather  think  no  less  a  one  than  Glasgow,  to  a 
good  deal  of  ridicule  when  they  advertised,  some  few  years  ago,  on  occa- 
sion of  the  death  of  their  hangman,  that  '  none  but  persons  of  respectable 
character  '  need  apply  for  the  vacant  situation.  At  this  day  in  China,  in 
Persia,  and  probably  in  other  Oriental  kingdoms,  the  chief  executioner  is 
one  of  the  great  oflacers  of  state,  and  is  as  proud  of  the  emblem  of  his 
fatal  duty  as  any  European  lord  chamberlain  of  his  golden  key. 

The  circumstances  of  the  strange  trial  and  execution  of  the  knight  of 
Hagenbach  are  detailed  minutely  by  M.  de  Barante  from  contemporary  MS. 
documents ;  and  the  reader  will  be  gratified  with  a  specimen  of  that 
writer's  narrative.  A  translation  is  also  given  for  the  benefit  of  many  of 
my  kind  readers. 

De  toutes  parts  on  ^tait  accourus  par  milliers  pour  assister  au  proems  de  ce  cruel 
gouvemeur,  tant  la  haine  ^tait  grande  centre  lui.  De  sa  prison,  il  entendait  retentir 
Bur  le  pont  le  pas  des  chevaux,  et  s'enqu6rait  a  son  geSlier  de  ceux  qui  arrivaient,  soit 
pour  ^re  ses  juges,  soit  pour  gtre  t^moins  de  son  supplice.  Parfois  le  geSlier  repondait, 
*  Ce  sont  des  Strangers  ;  je  ne  les  connais  pas.'  '  Ne  sont-ce  pas,'  disait  le  prisonnier,  '  dea 
gens  assez  mal  vgtus,  de  haute  taille,  de  forte  apparence,  months  sur  des  chevaux  aux 
courtes  oreilles?'  et  si  le  geClier  repondait,  'Oui'  — 'Ah  ce  sont  les  Suisses,'  s'ecriait 
Hagenbach.  '  Mon  Dieu,  ayez  pitie  de  moi ! '  et  il  se  rappelait  toutes  les  insultes  qu'il 
leur  avait  faites,  toutes  ses  insolences  envers  eux.  11  pensait,  mais  trop  tard,  que  c'6tait 
leur  alliance  avec  la  maison  d'Autriche  (jui  etait  cause  de  sa  perte. 

Le  4  Mai  1474,  apres  avoir  et6  mis  a  la  question,  il  fut,  a  la  diligence  d'Hermann 

d'Eptingen,  gouvemeur  pour  I'archiduc,  amene  devant  ses  juges,  sur  la  place  publique  de 

Brisach.     Sa  contenance  fetait  ferme  et  d'un  homme  qui  ne  craint  pas  la  mort.     Henri 

Iselin  de  BSle  porta  la  parole  au  nom  d'Hermann  d'Eptingen,  agissant  pour  le  seigneur 

VOL.  XXIII  —  30 


466        NOl^S  TO  Ax\NE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

du  pays.  11  parla  ^  peu  pr^s  en  ces  termes :  '  Pierre  de  Hagenbach,  chevalier,  maltre 
d'hStel  de  Mouseigneur  le  Due  de  Bourgogne,  et  sou  gouverneur  dans  les  pays  de  Ferette 
et  Haute-Alsace,  aurait  dQ  respecter  les  privileges  rfeserv^s  par  I'acte  d'engagement ; 
maia  il  n'a  pas  moius  foule  aux  pieds  les  lois  de  Dieu  et  des  homnxes,  que  les  droits  jures 
et  garantis  au  pays.  11  a  fait  mettre  a  mort  sans  jugement  quatre  houugtes  bourgeois  de 
Thaun ;  il  a  d^pouille  la  ville  de  Brisach  de  sa  jurisdiction,  et  y  a  6tabli  juges  et  con- 
suls de  son  choix ;  il  a  rompu  et  disperse  les  communaut^s  de  la  bourgeoisie,  et  des 
metiers ;  il  a  lev6  des  imp6ts  par  sa  seule  volonte ;  il  a,  centre  toutes  les  lois,  log6  chez 
les  habitans  des  gens  de  guerre  —  Lombards,  Frangais,  Picards,  ou  Flamands;  et  a 
favoris6  leur  d^sordres  et  pillages.  II  leur  a  meme  commands  d'egorger  leurs  hStes 
durant  la  nuit,  et  avait  fait  preparer,  pour  y  embarquer  les  femmes  et  les  enfans,  des 
bateaux  qui  devaient  gtre  submerges  dans  le  Rhin.  Enfin,  lors  mime  qu'il  rejetterait 
de  telles  cruautfes  sur  les  ordres  qu'il  a  re<jus,  comment  pourrait-il  s'excuser  d'avoir 
fait  violence  et  outrage  a  I'honneur  de  tant  de  fiUes  et  femmes,  et  mime  de  saintes 
religieuses  ? ' 

D'autres  accusations  furent  portees  dans  les  interrogatoires ;  et  des  temoins  attes- 
t^rent  les  violences  faites  aux  gens  de  Mulhausen  et  aux  marchands  de  Bale. 

Pour  suivre  toutes  les  formes  de  la  justice,  on  avait  donn6  un  avocat  k  l'accus6. 
*Mes8ire  Pierre  de  Hagenbach,'  dit-il,  'ne  reconnatt  d'autre  juge  et  d'autre  seigneur  que 
Monseigneur  le  Due  de  Bourgogne,  dont  il  avait  commission,  et  recevait  les  commande- 
meus.  II  n'avait  nul  droit  de  contrSler  les  ordres  qu'il  6tait  charge  d'ex6cuter,  et  son 
devoir  6tait  d'ob^ir.  Ne  sait-on  pas  quelle  soumission  les  gens  de  guerre  doivent  a  leur 
seigneur  et  maltre  ?  Croit-on  que  le  landvogt  de  Monseigneur  le  Due  efit  a  lui  remon- 
trer  et  A  lui  resister  ?  Et  monseigneur  n'art-il  p«.s  ensuite,  par  sa  presence,  confirme  et 
ratifi^  tout  ce  qui  avait  6te  fait  en  son  nom?  Si  des  impSts  out  6t6  demand6s,  c'est 
qu'il  avait  besoin  d'argent.  Pour  les  recueillir,  il  a  bien  fallu  puuir  ceux  qui  se  refu- 
saieut  4  payer.  C'est  ce  que  Monseigneur  le  Due,  et  mime  I'empereur,  quand  ils  sent 
venus,  ont  reconnu  n^cessaire.  Le  logement  des  gens  de  guerre  ^tait  aussi  la  suite  des 
ordres  du  Due.  Quant  a  la  juridiction  de  Brisach,  le  landvogt  pouvait-il  souffrir  cette 
resistance  ?  Enfin  dans  une  affaire  si  grave,  ou  il  y  va  de  la  vie,  convient-il  de  produire 
comme  un  veritable  grief,  le  dernier  dont  a  parl&  I'accusateur  ?  Parmi  ceux  qui  ecou- 
tent,  y  en  a-t-il  un  seul  qui  puisse  se  vanter  de  ne  pas  avoir  saisi  les  occasions  de  se 
divertir  ?  N'est-il  pas  clair  que  Messire  de  Hagenbach  a  seulement  profite  de  la  bonne 
volonte  de  quelques  femmes  ou  filles ;  ou,  pour  mettre  les  choses  au  pis,  qu'il  n'a  exerce 
d'autre  contrainte  envers  elles  qu'au  moyen  de  son  bon  argent  ?  ' 

Les  juges  si6g6rent  longtemps  sur  leur  tribunal.  Douze  heures  entieres  passferent 
sans  que  I'affaire  ffit  terminee.  Le  Sire  de  Hagenbach,  toujours  ferme  et  calme,  n'al- 
16gu&  d'autres  defenses,  d'autres  excuses,  que  celles  qu'il  avait  donn^es  d^ja  sous  la  tor- 
ture—  les  ordres  et  la  volonte  de  son  seigneur,  qui  etait  son  seul  juge,  et  le  seul  qui  pflt 
lui  demander  compte. 

Enfin,  A  sept  heures  du  soir,  a  la  clarte  des  flambeaux,  les  juges,  apres  avoir  d^clar^ 
qu'A  eux  appartenait  le  droit  de  prononcer  sur  les  crimes  imputes  au  landvogt,  le  firent 
rappeler,  et  rendirent  leur  sentence  qui  le  condamna  d,  mort.  II  ne  s'emut  pas  davan- 
tage,  et  demanda  pour  toute  grace  d'avoir  seulement  la  t8te  tranch^e.  Huit  bourreaux 
des  diverses  villes  se  presenterent  pour  ex6cuter  I'arrgt.  Celui  de  Colmar,  qui  passait 
pour  le  plus  adroit,  fut  prefer6.    Avant  de  le  conduire  a  I'echafaud,  les  seize  chevaliers 

3ui  faisaient  partie  des  juges  requirent  que  Messire  de  Hagenbach  ffit  degrade  de  sa 
ignite  de  chevalier  et  de  tons  ses  honneurs.  Pour  lors  s'avanga  Gaspard  Hurter, 
heraut  de  I'empereur,  et  il  dit:  'Pierre  de  Hagenbach,  il  me  d^plalt  grandement  que 
V0U8  ayez  si  mal  employ^  votre  vie  mortelle,  de  sorte  qu'il  convient  que  vous  perdiez 
non  seulement  la  dignite  et  ordre  de  chevalerie,  mais  aussi  la  vie.  Votre  devoir  etait  de 
rendre  la  justice,  de  prot^ger  la  veuve  et  I'orphelin,  de  respecter  les  femmes  et  les 
filles,  d'honorer  les  saintes  prgtres,  de  vous  opposer  a  toute  injuste  violence,  et,  au 
contraire,  vous  avez  commis  tout  ce  que  vous  deviez  empgcher.  Ayant  ainsi  forfait  au 
noble  ordre  de  chevalerie,  et  aux  sermens  que  vous  aviez  jur6s,  les  chevaliers  ici  presfens 
m'ont  enjoint  de  vous  en  8ter  les  insignes.  Ne  les  voyant  pas  sur  vous  en  ce  moment 
je  vous  proclame  indigne  chevalier  de  St.  George,  au  nom  et  a  I'honneur  duquel  on  vous 
avait  autrefois  honors  du  baudrier  de  chevalerie.'  Puis  s'avanga  Hermann  d'Eptingen: 
*Pui8  qu'on  vient  de  te  degrader  de  chevalerie,  je  te  d^pouille  de  ton  collier,  chalne 
d'or,  anneau,  poignard,  6peron,  gantelet.'  II  les  lui  prit  et  lui  en  frappa  le  visage,  et 
ajouta :  •  Chevaliers,  et  vous  qui  ddsirez  le  devenir,  j'espfere  que  cette  punition  publique 
vous  servira  d'exemple,  et  que  vous  vivrez  dans  la  crainte  de  Dieu,  noblement  et  vail- 
lamment,  selon  la  dignity  de  la  chevalerie  et  I'honneur  de  votre  nom.'  Enfin,  Thomas 
Schutz,  prevSt  d'Einsisheim  et  mar6chal  de  cette  commission  de  juges,  se  leva,  et 
s'adressant  au  bourreau,  lui  dit:  'Paites  selon  la  justice.' 

Tous  les  juges  monterent  a  cheval  amsi  qu'Hermann  d'Eptingen.  Au  milieu  d'eux 
marchait  Pierre  de  Hagenbach,  entre  deux  prgtres.  C'6tait  pendant  la  nuit.  Des 
torches  ^clairaient  la  marche;  une  foule  immense  se  pressait  autour  de  ce  triste 
cortege.     Lo  condamn6  s'eutreteuait  avec  son  confesseur  d'un  air  pieux  et   recueilli, 


NOTES  TO  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN        467 

mais  ferme ;  se  recommandant  aussi  aux  priferes  de  tous  ceux  qui  I'entouraient.  Arriv6 
dans  une  prairie  devant  la  porte  de  la  vUle,  il  monta  sur  I'echafaud  d'un  pas  assure ; 
puis  elevant  la  voix  — 

'  Je  n'ai  pas  peur  de  la  mort,'  dit-il ;  'encore  que  je  ne  I'attendisse  pas  de  cette  sorte, 
mais  bien  les  armes  a  la  main ;  que  je  plains  c'est  tout  le  sang  que  le  mien  fera  couler. 
Monseigneur  ne  laissera  point  ce  jour  sans  vengeance  pour  moi.  Je  ne  regrette  ni  ma 
vie,  ni  mon  corps.  J'^tais  homme  —  priez  pour  moi.'  II  s'entretint  encore  un  instant  avec 
coufesseur,  pr^senta  la  tgte  et  re^ut  le  coup.  —  M.  db  Bakante,  torn.  x.  p.  197. 

Tbanslation 

Such  was  the  detestation  in  which  this  cruel  governor  was  held,  that  multitudes 
flocked  in  from  all  quarters  to  be  present  at  his  trial.  He  heard  from  his  prison  the 
bridge  re-echo  with  the  tread  of  horses,  and  would  ask  of  his  jailer  respecting  those  who 
were  arriving,  whether  they  might  be  his  judges,  or  those  desirous  of  witnessing  his  punish- 
ment. Sometimes  the  jailer  would  answer,  '  These  are  strangers  whom  I  know  not.' 
'Are  not  they,'  said  the  prisoner,  'men  meanly  clad,  tall  in  stature,  and  of  bold  mien, 
mounted  on  short-eared  horses?'  And  if  the  jailer  answered  in  the  affirmative,  'Ah, 
these  are  the  Swiss,'  cried  Hagenbach.  'My  God,  have  mercy  on  me  ! '  and  he  recalled 
to  mind  all  the  insults  and  cruelties  he  had  heaped  upon  them.  He  considered,  but  too 
late,  that  their  alliance  with  the  house  of  Austria  had  been  his  destruction. 

On  the  4th  of  May  1474,  after  being  put  to  the  torture,  he  was  brought  before  his 
judges  in  the  public  square  of  Brisach,  at  the  instance  of  Hermann  d'Eptingen,  who 
governed  for  the  Archduke.  His  coimtenance  was  firm,  as  one  who  fears  not  death. 
Henry  Iselin  of  Bfile  first  spoke  in  the  name  of  Hermann  d'Eptingen,  who  acted  for  the 
lord  of  the  country.  He  proceeded  in  nearly  these  terms :  '  Peter  de  Hagenbach, 
knight,  steward  of  my  lord  the  Duke  of  Burgimdy,  and  his  governor  in  the  country  of 
Ferette  and  Haute- Alsace,  was  bound  to  observe  the  privileges  reserved  by  act  of  com- 
pact, but  he  has  alike  trampled  vmder  foot  the  laws  of  God  and  man,  and  the  rights 
which  have  been  guaranteed  by  oath  to  the  coimtry.  He  has  caused  four  worshipful 
burgesses  of  Thann  to  be  put  to  death  without  trial ;  he  has  spoiled  the  city  of  Brisach, 
and  established  there  judges  and  consuls  chosen  by  himself;  he  has  broken  and  dis- 
persed the  various  communities  of  burghers  and  craftsmen ;  he  has  levied  imposts  of 
his  own  will ;  contrary  to  every  law,  he  has  quartered  upon  the  inhabitants  soldiers  of 
various  countries,  Lombards,  French,  men  of  Picardy,  and  Flemings,  and  has  encour- 
aged them  in  piUage  and  disorder ;  he  has  even  commanded  these  men  to  butcher  their 
hosts  during  the  night,  and  had  caused  boats  to  be  prepared  to  embark  therein  women 
and  children  to  be  sunk  in  the  Rhine.  Finally,  should  he  plead  the  orders  which  he 
had  received  as  an  excuse  for  these  cruelties,  how  can  he  clear  himself  of  having  dis- 
honoured so  many  women  and  maidens,  even  those  under  religious  vows  ? ' 

Other  accusations  were  brought  against  him  by  examination,  and  witnesses  proved 
outrages  committed  on  the  people  of  Mulhausen  and  the  merchants  of  Btle. 

That  every  form  of  justice  might  be  observed,  an  advocate  was  appointed  to  defend 
the  accused.  'Messire  Peter  de  Hagenbach,'  said  he,  'recognises  no  other  judge  or 
master  than  my  lord  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  whose  commission  he  bore  and  whose 
orders  he  received.  He  had  no  control  over  the  orders  he  was  charged  to  execute :  his 
duty  was  to  obey.  Who  is  ignorant  of  the  submission  due  by  military  retainers  to 
their  lord  and  master?  Can  any  one  believe  that  the  landvogt  of  my  lord  the  Duke 
could  remonstrate  with  or  resist  him  ?  And  has  not  my  lord  confirmed  and  ratified  by 
his  presence  all  acts  done  in  his  name  ?  If  imposts  have  been  levied,  it  was  because  he 
had  need  of  money ;  to  obtain  it,  it  was  necessary  to  punish  those  who  refused  payment ; 
this  proceeding  my  lord  the  Diike,  and  the  Emperor  himself,  when  present,  have  con- 
sidered as  expedient.  The  quartering  of  soldiers  was  also  in  accordance  with  the  orders 
of  the  Duke.  With  respect  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Brisach,  could  the  landvogt  permit 
any  resistance  from  that  quarter?  To  conclude,  in  so  serious  an  affair  —  one  which 
touches  the  life  of  the  prisoner  —  can  the  last  accusation  be  really  considered  a  griev- 
ance ?  Among  aU  those  who  hear  me,  is  there  one  man  who  can  say  he  has  never  com- 
mitted similar  imprudences?  Is  it  not  evident  that  Messire  de  Hagenbach  has  only 
taken  advantage  of  the  good-will  of  some  girls  and  women,  or,  at  the  worst,  that  his 
money  was  the  only  restraint  imposed  upon  them  ?  ' 

The  judges  sat  for  a  long  time  on  the  tribunal.  Twelve  hours  elapsed  before  the 
termination  of  the  trial.  The  knight  of  Hagenbach,  always  calm  and  undaimted, 
brought  forward  no  othsr  defence  or  excuse  than  what  he  had  before  given  when  under 
the  torture,  viz.  the  orders  and  will  of  his  lord,  who  alone  was  his  judge,  and  who 
alone  could  demand  an  explanation.  At  length,  at  seven  in  the  evening,  and  by  the 
light  of  torches,  the  judges,  after  having  declared  it  their  province  to  pronoimce  judg- 
ment on  the  crimes  of  which  the  landvogt  was  accused,  caused  him  to  be  called  before 
them,  and  delivered  their  sentence  condemning  him  to  death.    He  betrayed  no  emotion, 


468       NOTES  TO   ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

and  only  demanded  as  a  favour  that  he  should  be  beheaded.  Eight  executioners  of  vari- 
ous towns  presented  themselves  to  execute  the  sentence ;  the  one  belonging  to  Colmar, 
who  was  accounted  the  most  expert,  was  preferred. 

Before  conducting  him  to  the  scaffold,  the  sixteen  knights  who  acted  as  judges 
required  that  Messire  de  Hagenbach  should  be  degraded  from  the  dignity  of  knight, 
and  from  all  his  honours.  Then  advanced  Gaspar  Hurter,  herald  of  the  Emperor,  and 
said  — '  Peter  de  Hagenbach,  I  deeply  deplore  that  you  have  so  employed  your  mortal 
life,  that  you  must  lose  not  only  the  dignity  and  honour  of  knighthood,  but  your  life 
also.  Your  duty  was  to  render  justice,  to  protect  the  widow  and  orphan,  to  respect 
women  and  maidens,  to  honour  the  holy  priests,  to  oppose  every  unjust  outrage;  but 
you  have  yourself  committed  what  you  ought  to  have  opposed  in  others.  Having 
broken,  therefore,  the  oaths  which  you  have  sworn,  and  having  forfeited  the  noble 
order  of  knighthood,  the  knights  here  present  have  enjoined  me  to  deprive  you  of  its 
insignia.  Not  perceiving  them  on  your  person  at  this  moment,  I  proclaim  you  un- 
worthy knight  of  St.  George,  in  whose  name  and  honour  you  were  formerly  admitted 
in  the  order  of  knighthood.'  Then  Hermann  d'Eptingen  advanced.  'Since  you  are 
degraded  from  knighthood,  I  deprive  you  of  your  collar,  gold  chain,  ring,  poniard,  spur, 
and  gauntlet.'  He  then  took  them  from  him,  and,  striking  him  on  the  face,  added  — 
'Knights,  and  you  who  aspire  to  that  honour,  I  trust  this  public  punishment  will 
serve  as  an  example  to  you,  and  that  you  will  live  in  the  fear  of  God,  nobly  and  val- 
iantly, in  accordance  with  the  dignity  of  knighthood  and  the  honour  of  your  name.' 
At  last  the  provost  of  Einsisheim,  and  marshal  of  that  conunissiou  of  judges,  arose, 
and  addressing 'himself  to  the  executioner  —  'Let  justice  be  done.' 

All  the  judges,  along  with  Hermann  d'Eptingen,  mounted  on  horseback;  in  the 
midst  of  them  walked  Peter  de  Hagenbach  between  two  priests.  It  was  night,  and 
they  marched  by  the  light  of  torches;  an  immense  crowd  pressed  around  this  sad  pro- 
cession. The  prisoner  conversed  with  his  confessor  with  pious,  collected,  and  firm 
demeanour,  recommending  himself  to  the  prayers  of  the  spectators.  On  arriving  at  a 
meadow  without  the  gate  of  the  town,  he  mounted  the  scaffold  with  a  firm  step,  and 
elevating  his  voice,  exclaimed  — 

'I  fear  not  death,  I  have  always  expected  it;  not,  indeed,  in  this  manner,  but  with 
arms  in  my  hand.  I  regret  alone  the  blood  which  mine  will  cause  to  be  shed  :  my 
lord  will  not  permit  this  day  to  pass  unavenged.  I  regret  neither  my  life  or  body.  I 
was  a  man — pray  for  me ! '  He  conversed  an  instant  more  with  his  confessor,  presented 
his  head,  and  received  the  blow. 

Note  4.  — '  Der  Rhein,  dee  Rhbin,'  p.  224 

This  is  one  of  the  best  and  most  popular  of  the  German  ditties :  — 

Am  Rhein,  am  Rhein,  da  wachsen  unsere  Reben 
Gesegnet  sei  der  Rhein,  etc. 

Note  5.  —  Vbhmb,  p.  253 

The  word  '  Vehme '  is  of  uncertain  derivation,  but  was  always  used  to 
Intimate  this  inquisitorial  and  secret  court.  The  members  were  termed 
wissenden,  or  initiated,  answering  to  the  modern  phrase  of  illuminati. 
Mr.  Palgrave  seems  inclined  to  derive  the  word  *  Vehme  '  from  *  ehme,' 
i.  e.  law,  and  he  is  probably  right. 

Note  6.  —  Red  Soil,  p.  260 

The  parts  of  Germany  subjected  to  the  operation  of  the  Secret  Tribunal 
were  called,  from  the  blood  which  it  spilt,  or  from  some  other  reason  (Mr. 
Palgrave  suggests  the  ground  tincture  of  the  ancient  banner  of  the  dis- 
trict), the  Red  Soil.  Westphalia,  as  the  limits  of  that  country  were  under- 
stood in  the  middle  ages,  which  are  considerably  different  from  the  present 
boundaries,  was  the  principal  theatre  of  the  Vehme. 

Note  7.  —  The  Troubadours,  p.  365 

The  smoothness  of  the  Provengal  dialect,  partaking  strongly  of  the 
Latin,  which  had  been  spoken  for  so  many  ages  in  what  was  called  for  dis- 


NOTES  TO  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN        469 

tinction's  sake  the  Roman  province  of  Gaul,  and  the  richness  and  fertility 
of  a  country  abounding  in  all  that  could  delight  the  senses  and  soothe  the 
imagination,  naturally  disposed  the  inhabitants  to  cultivate  the  art  of 
poetry,  and  to  value  and  foster  the  genius  of  those  who  distinguished 
themselves  by  attaining  excellence  in  it.  Troubadours,  that  is,  '  finders ' 
or  •  inventors,'  equivalent  to  the  Northern  term  of  *  makers,'  arose  in  every 
class,  from  the  lowest  to  the  highest,  and  success  in  their  art  dignified  men 
of  the  meanest  rank,  and  added  fresh  honours  to  those  who  were  born  in 
the  patrician  file  of  society.  War  and  love,  more  especially  the  latter, 
were  dictated  to  them  by  the  chivalry  of  the  times  as  the  especial  subjects 
of  their  verse.  Such,  too,  were  the  themes  of  our  Northern  minstrels. 
But  whilst  the  latter  confined  themselves  in  general  to  those  well-known 
metrical  histories  in  which  scenes  of  strife  and  combat  mingled  with  ad- 
ventures of  enchantment,  and  fables  of  giants  and  monsters  subdued  by 
valiant  champions,  such  as  best  attracted  the  ears  of  the  somewhat  duller 
and  more  barbarous  warriors  of  northern  Prance,  of  Britain,  and  of  Ger- 
many, the  more  lively  troubadours  produced  poems  which  turned  on  human 
passion,  and  on  love,  affection,  and  dutiful  observance,  with  which  the 
faithful  knight  was  bound  to  regard  the  object  of  his  choice,  and  the 
honour  and  respect  with  which  she  was  bound  to  recompense  his  faithful 
services. 

Thus  far  it  cannot  be  disputed  that  the  themes  selected  by  the  trouba- 
dours were  those  on  which  poetry  is  most  naturally  exerted,  and  with  the 
best  chance  of  rising  to  excellence.  But  it  usually  happens  that,  when  any 
one  of  the  fine  arts  is  cultivated  exclusively,  the  taste  of  those  who  prac- 
tise and  admire  its  productions  loses  sight  of  nature,  simplicity,  and  true 
taste,  and  the  artist  endeavours  to  discover,  while  the  public  learn  to  ad- 
mire, some  more  complicated  system,  in  which  pedantry  supersedes  the 
dictates  of  natural  feeling,  and  metaphysical  ingenuity  is  used  instead  of 
the  mone  obvious  qualifications  of  simplicity  and  good  sense.  Thus,  with 
the  unanimous  approbation  of  their  hearers,  the  troubadours  framed  for 
themselves  a  species  of  poetry  describing  and  inculcating  a  system  of  meta- 
physical affection  as  inconsistent  with  nature  as  the  minstrel's  tales  of 
magicians  and  monsters ;  with  this  evil  to  society,  that  it  was  calculated 
deeply  to  injure  its  manners  and  its  morals.  Every  troubadour,  or  good 
knight,  who  took  the  maxims  of  their  poetical  school  for  his  rule,  was 
bound  to  choose  a  lady  love,  the  fairest  and  noblest  to  whom  he  had  ac- 
cess, to  whom  he  dedicated  at  once  his  lyre  and  his  sword,  and  who,  mar- 
ried or  single,  was  to  be  the  object  to  whom  his  life,  words,  and  actions 
were  to  be  devoted.  On  the  other  hand,  a  lady  thus  honoured  and  distin- 
guished was  bound,  by  accepting  the  services  of  such  a  gallant,  to  consider 
him  as  her  lover,  and  on  all  due  occasions  to  grace  him  as  such  with  distin- 
guished marks  of  personal  favour.  It  is  true  that,  according  to  the  best 
authorities,  the  intercourse  betwixt  her  lover  and  herself  was  to  be  entirely 
of  a  Platonic  character,  and  the  loyal  swain  was  not  to  require,  or  the 
chosen  lady  to  grant,  anything  beyond  the  favour  she  might  in  strict  mod- 
esty bestow.  Even  under  this  restriction,  the  system  was  like  to  make  wild 
work  with  the  domestic  peace  of  families,  since  it  permitted,  or  rather 
enjoined,  such  familiarity  betwixt  the  fair  dame  and  her  poetical  admirer  ; 
and  very  frequently  human  passions,  placed  in  such  a  dangerous  situation, 
proved  too  strong  to  be  confined  within  the  metaphysical  bounds  prescribed 
to  them  by  so  fantastic  and  perilous  a  system.  The  injured  husbands  on 
many  occasions  avenged  themselves  with  severity,  and  even  with  dreadful 
cruelty,  on  the  unfaithful  ladies,  and  the  musical  slcill  and  chivalrous  char- 
acter of  the  lover  proved  no  protection  to  his  person.  But  the  real  spirit 
of  the  system  was  seen  in  this,  that  in  the  poems  of  the  other  troubadours, 
by  whom  such  events  are  recorded,  their  pity  Is  all  bestowed  on  the  hap- 
less lovers,  while,  without  the  least  allowance  for  just  provocation,  the 
injured  husband  is  held  up  to  execration. 


470        NOTES  TO   ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 


Note  8.  —  Parliament  of  Love,  p.  366 

In  Provence,  during  the  flourishing  time  of  the  troubadours,  love  waa 
esteemed  so  grave  and  formal  a  part  of  the  business  of  life,  that  a  Parlia- 
ment or  High  Court  of  Love  was  appointed  for  deciding  such  questions. 
This  singular  tribunal  was,  it  may  be  supposed,  conversant  with  more  of 
imaginary  than  of  real  suits ;  but  it  is  astonishing  with  what  cold  and 
pedantic  ingenuity  the  troubadours  of  whom  it  consisted  set  themselves 
to  plead  and  to  decide,  upon  reasoning  which  was  not  less  singular  and 
able  than  out  of  place,  the  absurd  questions  which  their  own  fantastic 
imaginations  had  previously  devised.  There,  for  example,  is  a  reported 
case  of  much  celebrity,  where  a  lady,  sitting  in  company  with  three  per- 
sons who  were  her  admirers,  listened  to  one  with  the  most  favourable 
smiles,  while  she  pressed  the  hand  of  the  second,  and  touched  with  her  own 
"the  foot  of  the  third.  It  was  a  case  much  agitated  and  keenly  contested 
in  the  Parliament  of  Love  which  of  these  rivals  had  received  the  distin-, 
guishing  mark  of  the  lady's  favour.  Much  ingenuity  was  wasted  on  this  and 
similar  cases,  of  which  there  is  a  collection,  in  all  judicial  form  of  legal 
proceedings,  under  the  title  of  arrets  d'amowr  (adjudged  cases  of  the  Court 
of  Love). 

Note  9.  —  Head  of  the  Vehmic  Tribunals,  p.  417 

The  Archbishop  of  Cologne  was  recognised  as  head  of  all  the  free  tribu- 
nals (*.  e.  the  Vehmique  benches)  in  Westphalia,  by  a  writ  of  privilege 
granted  in  1353  by  the  Emperor  Charles  IV.  Winceslaus  confirmed  this 
act  by  a  privilege  dated  1382,  in  which  the  archbishop  is  termed  Grand 
Master  of  the  Vehme,  or  Grand  Inquisitor.  And  this  prelate  and  other 
priests  were  encouraged  to  exercise  such  oflSce  by  Pope  Boniface  III.,  whose 
ecclesiastical  discipline  permitted  them  in  such  cases  to  assume  the  right 
of  judging  in  matters  of  life  and  death. 

Note  10.  —  Guantes,  p.  440 

Guantes,  used  by  the  Spanish  as  the  French  say  ^trennes,  or  the  English 
handsell  or  luckpenny  —  phrases  used  by  inferiors  to  their  patrons  as  the 
bringers  of  good  news. 

Note  11.  —  Charles  the  Bold,  p.  458 

The  following  very  striking  passage  is  that  in  which  Philip  de  Comines 
sums  up  the  last  scene  of  Charles  the  Bold,  whose  various  fortunes  he  had 
long  watched  with  a  dark  anticipation  that  a  character  so  reckless,  and 
capable  of  such  excess,  must  sooner  or  later  lead  to  a  tragical  result :  — 

As  soon  as  the  Count  de  Campo-basso  arrived  in  the  Duke  of  Lorrain's  army,  word 
was  sent  him  to  leave  the  camp  immediately,  for  they  would  not  entertain,  nor  have 
any  communication  with,  such  traitors.  Upon  which  message  he  retir'd  with  his  party 
to  Conde,  a  castle  and  pass  not  far  off,  where  he  fortified  himself  with  carts  and  other 
things  as  well  as  he  could,  in  hopes  that,  if  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  was  routed,  he 
might  have  an  opportunity  of  coming  in  for  share  of  the  pluiider,  as  he  did  afterwards. 
Nor  was  this  practice  with  the  Duke  of  Lorrain  the  most  execrable  action  that  Campo- 
basso  was  guilty  of  ;  but  before  he  left  the  army  he  conspir'd  with  several  other  officers 
(finding  it  was  impracticable  to  attempt  anything  against  the  Duke  of  Burgmidy's 
person)  to  leave  him  just  as  they  came  to  charge,  for  at  that  time  he  suppos'd  it  would 
put  the  Duke  into  the  greatest  terror  and  consternation,  and  if  he  fled,  he  was  sure  he 
could  not  escape  alive,  for  he  had  order'd  thirteen  or  fourteen  sure  men,  some  to  run  as 
soon  as  the  Germans  came  up  to  charge  'em,  and  others  to  watch  the  Duke  of  Bur- 
gundy, and  kill  him  in  the  rout,  which  was  well  enough  contrived ;  I  myself  have  seen 
two  or  three  of  those  who  were  employed  to  kill  the  Duke.    Having  thus  settled  his 


NOTES  TO   ANNE  OF  GEIERSTEIN        471 

conspiracy  at  home,  he  went  over  to  the  Duke  of  Lorrain  upon  the  approach  of  the 
German  army  ;  but  finding  they  would  not  entertain  him,  he  retired  to  Conde. 

The  German  army  march'd  forward,  and  with  'em  a  considerable  body  of  French 
horse,  whom  the  King  had  given  leave  to  be  present  at  that  action.  Several  parties 
lay  in  ambush  not  far  off,  that  if  the  Duke  of  Burgundy  was  routed,  they  might  sur- 
prise some  person  of  quality,  or  take  some  considerable  booty.  By  this  every  one  may 
see  into  what  a  deplorable  condition  this  poor  Duke  had  brought  himself  by  his  con- 
tempt of  good  counsel.  Both  armies  being  join'd,  the  Duke  of  Burgundy's  forces 
having  been  twice  beaten  before,  and  by  consequence  weak  and  dispirited,  and  iU  pro- 
vided besides,  were  quickly  broken  and  entirely  defeated.  Many  sav'd  themselves  and 
got  off;  the  rest  were  either  taken  or  kill'd;  and  among  'em  the  Duke  of  Burgundy 
himself  was  kill'd  on  the  spot.  One  Monsieur  Claude  of  Bausmont,  captain  of  the 
Castle  of  Dier  in  Lorrain,  kill'd  the  Duke  of  Burgundy.  Finding  his  army  routed,  he 
mounted  a  swift  horse,  and  endeavouring  to  swim  a  little  river  in  order  to  make  his 
escape,  his  horse  fell  with  him,  and  overset  him.  The  Duke  cry'd  out  for  quarter  to 
this  gentleman  who  was  pursuing  him,  but  he  being  deaf,  and  not  (hearing  him,  im- 
mediately kill'd  and  stripp'd  him,  not  knowing  who  he  was,  and  left  him  naked  in  the 
ditch,  where  his  body  was  found  the  next  day  after  the  battle  ;  which  the  Duke  of 
Lorrain  (to  his  eternal  honour)  buried  with  great  pomp  and  magnificence  in  St.  George's 
church,  in  the  old  town  of  Nancy,  himself  and  all  his  nobility,  in  deep  mourning, 
attending  the  corpse  to  the  grave.  The  foUovnng  epitaph  was  some  time  aferwards 
engrav'd  on  his  tomb  :  — 

Carolus  hoc  busto  Burgundae  gloria  gentis 
Conditur,  Europae  qui  fuit  ante  timor. 

I  saw  a  seal  ring  of  his,  since  his  death,  at  Milan,  with  his  arms  cut  curiously  upon  a 
sardonyx  that  I  have  seen  him  often  wear  in  a  riband  at  his  breast,  which  was  sold  at 
Milan  for  two  ducats,  and  had  been  stolen  from  him  by  a  rascal  that  waited  on  him  in 
his  chamber.  I  have  often  seen  the  Duke  dress'd  and  undress'd  in  great  state  and 
formality,  and  attended  by  very  great  persons;  but  at  his  death  all  this  pomp  and 
magnificence  ceas'd,  and  his  family  was  involv'd  in  the  same  ruin  with  himself,  and  very 
likely  as  a  punishment  for  his  having  deliver'd  up  the  Constable  not  long  before, 
out  of  a  base  and  avaricious  principle ;  but  God  forgive  him.  I  have  known  him  a 
powerful  and  honourable  prince,  in  as  great  esteem,  and  as  much  coiu"ted  by  his  neigh- 
bours (when  his  affairs  were  in  a  prosperous  condition),  as  any  prince  in  Europe,  and 
perhaps  more ;  and  I  cannot  conceive  what  should  provoke  God  Almighty's  displeasure 
so  highly  against  him,  unless  it  was  his  self-love  and  arrogance,  in  appropriating  all 
the  success  of  his  enterprises,  and  all  the  renown  he  ever  acquir'd,  to  his  own  wisdom 
and  conduct,  without  attributing  anything  to  God.  Yet,  to  speak  truth,  he  was  master 
of  several  good  qualities.  No  prince  ever  had  a  greater  ambition  to  entertain  young 
noblemen  than  he,  nor  was  more  careful  of  their  education.  His  presents  and  bounty 
were  never  profuse  and  extravagant,  because  he  gave  to  many,  and  had  a  mind  every- 
body should  taste  of  it.  No  prince  was  ever  more  easy  of  access  to  his  servants  and 
subjects.  Whilst  I  was  in  his  service  he  was  never  cruel,  but  a  little  before  his  death 
he  took  up  that  humour,  which  was  an  infallible  sign  of  the  shortness  of  his  life.  He 
was  very  splendid  and  curious  in  his  dress,  and  in  everything  else,  and  indeed  a  little 
too  much.  He  paid  great  honours  to  all  ambassadors  and  foreigners,  and  entertain'd 
them  nobly.  His  ambitious  desire  of  fame  was  insatiable,  and  it  was  that  which  in- 
duced him  to  be  eternally  in  wars,  more  than  any  other  motive.  He  ambitiously  desir'd 
to  imitate  the  old  kings  and  heroes  of  antiquity,  whose  actions  still  shine  in  history, 
and  are  so  much  talked  of  in  the  world,  and  his  courage  was  equal  to  any  prince's  of 
his  time. 

But  all  his  designs  and  imaginations  were  vain  and  extravagant,  and  tum'd  after- 
wards to  his  own  dishonour  and  confusion,  for  't  is  the  conquerors  and  not  the  conquer'd 
that  purchase  to  themselves  renown.  I  cannot  easily  determine  towards  whom  God 
Almighty  shew'd  his  anger  most,  whether  towards  him  who  died  suddenly  without 
pain  or  sickness  in  the  field  of  battle,  or  towards  his  subjects  who  never  en  joy 'd  peace 
after  his  death,  but  were  continually  involv'd  in  wars,  against  which  they  were  not  able 
to  maintain  themselves,  upon  account  of  the  civil  dissentions  and  cruel  animosities 
that  arose  among  'em ;  and  that  which  was  the  most  insupportable  was,  that  the  very 
people  to  whom  they  were  now  oblig'd  for  their  defence  and  preservation  were  the 
Germans,  who  were  strangers,  and  not  long  since  their  profess'd  enemies.  In  short, 
after  the  Duke's  death,  there  was  not  a  neighbouring  state  that  wish'd  them  to  prosper, 
nor  even  Germany  that  defended  'em.  And  by  the  management  of  their  affairs,  their 
imderstanding  seem'd  to  be  as  much  infatuated  as  their  master's,  for  they  rejected  all 
good  coimsel,  and  pursued  such  methods  as  directly  tended  to  their  destruction ;  and 
they  are  still  in  such  a  condition,  that  though  they  have  at  present  some  little  ease 
and  relaxation  from  their  sorrows,  yet  'tis  with  great  danger  of  a  relapse,  and  'tis  well 
if  it  turns  not  in  the  end  to  their  utter  rain. 


472        NOTES  TO  ANNE   OF  GEIERSTEIN 

I  am  partly  of  their  opinion  who  maintain,  that  God  gives  princes,  as  He  in  His 
wisdom  thinks  fit,  to  punish  or  chastise  the  subjects ;  and  He  disposes  the  aifection  of 
subjects  to  their  princes,  as  He  has  determin'd  to  raise  or  depress  'em.  Just  so  it  has 
pleas'd  Him  to  deal  with  the  house  of  Burgimdy ;  for,  after  a  long  series  of  riches  and 
prosperity,  and  six-and-twenty  years'  peace  imder  three  illustrious  princes,  predecessors 
to  this  Charles  (all  of  'em  excellent  persons,  and  of  great  prudence  and  discretion),  it 
pleas'd  God  to  send  this  Duke  Charles,  who  involv'd  them  in  bloody  wars,  as  well 
winter  as  summer,  to  their  great  affliction  and  expense,  in  which  most  of  their  richest 
and  stoutest  men  were  either  kill'd  or  utterly  undone.  Their  misfortunes  continu'd 
successively  to  the  very  hour  of  his  death ;  and  after  such  a  manner,  that  at  the  last  the 
whole  strength  of  their  country  was  destroy'd,  and  all  kill'd  or  taken  prisoners  who  had 
any  zeal  or  aifection  for  the  house  of  Burgundy,  and  had  power  to  defend  the  state  and 
dignity  of  that  family ;  so  that  in  a  manner  their  losses  were  equal  to,  if  not  over-balanc'd, 
their  former  prosperity ;  for  as  I  have  seen  these  princes  heretofore  puissant,  rich, 
and  honourable,  so  it  fared  the  same  with  their  subjects ;  for  I  think  I  have  seen 
and  known  the  greatest  part  of  Europe;  yet  I  never  knew  any  province  or  country, 
tho'  perhaps  of  a  larger  extent,  so  abounding  in  money,  so  extravagantly  fine  in  furni- 
ture for  their  horses,  so  sumptuous  in  their  buildings,  so  profuse  in  their  expenses,  so 
luxurious  in  their  feasts  and  entertainments,  and  so  prodigal  in  all  respects,  as  the 
subjects  of  these  princes,  in  my  time ;  but  it  has  pleased  God  at  one  blow  to  subvert  and 
ruin  this  powerful  and  illustrious  family.  Such  changes  and  revolutions  of  states  and 
kingdoms  God  in  His  providence  has  wrought  before  we  were  bom,  and  will  do  again  when 
we  are  in  our  graves ;  for  this  is  a  certain  maxim,  that  the  prosperity  or  adversity  of  princes 
are  wholly  at  His  disposal. —  Comines,  Book  V.  chap.  ix. 


GLOSSARY 


OF 


WORDS,  PHRASES,  AND  ALLUSIONS 


Abte,  to  ipay  the  penalty  of, 
atone  for 

Adjected,  appended,  added 

AoNEs,  Queen  (p.  160),  wife 
of  King  Andrew  of  Hun- 
gary, and  daughter  of  the 
(Emperor)  Albert,  took  in- 
human vengeance  on  her 
father's  murderers 

AiGBETTB,  a  plume  of  feathers 

Albebt,  Ehpebob,  more 
correctly  Bono  op  the 
BouAiTs,  was  assassinated 
by  his  nephews  and  other 
conspirators  near  Habs- 
burg  in  Switzerland  in 
1308 

Alhain,  or  Allbhaonb, 
Germany 

AxTEB  EQO,  second  self 

Abiette,  a  little  song 

Abqttebusieb,  a  soldier  armed 
with  an  arquebuse,  an  early 
form  of  musket 

Aebbsts  of  love,  decrees  of 
the  troubadour  courts  of 
love.    See  Note  9,  p.  470 

Asi,  or  ^siB,  a  class  of  gods 
in  ancient  Scandinavian 
mythology 

Asses,  Festival  oi".  See 
Festival  of  Asses 

AsTUCious,  astute,  shrewd 

Au  seceet,  for  a  confidential 
consultation 

Ave,  Ave  Mabia,  Hail  to 
thee,  Mary!  A  prayer 
beginning  with  these  words 


Baabenhauteb,  correctly, 
Babenhauteb,  a  'bear's- 
hider,'  a  nickname  given 
to  the  lanzknechie,  or 
landsknecJite,  at  the  time 
of  the  Thirty  Years  War, 


from  their  fondness  for 
lying  stretched  at  lazy  ease 
on  a  bear-skin  or  similar 
rug 
Bannebet,  a  standard-bearer 
Ban  of  the  Empibe,  sentence 

of  outlawry ;  authority 

Banquette,  the  walk  behind 

the  parapet  of  a  fortress 

BaBANTE,  a.  G.  p.  BBUGlfeBE, 

Babon  de,  author  of 
Histoire  des  Dues  de 
Bourgogne^  12  vols. 
(1824-28) 

Babbbb,  Louis  XI. 's.  Covn- 
pare  Oliver  le  Dain  in 
Queniin  Durward 

Babbican,  the  outwork 
defending  the  gate  of  a 
fortress 

Babon  of  the  Eupibe,  a 
baron  who  owed  no  alle- 
giance  to  any  feudal 
superior  except  the 
emperor 

Babtizan,  a  small  over- 
hanging turret,  projecting 
parapet 

Bean  in  the  case.  He 
who  obtained  the  bean, 
previously  placed  in  the 
Twelfth  Night  cake,  was 
Twelfth  Night  Kmg 

Beitedicite,  my  blessing  rest 
upon  you 

BEBCHTOLDOf  OFFBINGEN 

(p.  160),  a  soldier  and 
hermit,  who  established 
his  cell  near  the  spot 
where  Albert  iq.v.)  was 
slain 

Bickebino,  quivering,  rapidly 
fluttering 

Black  fbiabs  of  St. 
Fbancis's  obdeb.  See  St. 
Francis's  order 


Blink  out  of,  to  evade,  shirk 

BLxriACKEB.  See  Steinem- 
herz,  Francis,  etc. 

BoBEAS,  in  ancient  Greek 
mythology,  the  North 
Wind 

BoTABOO,  the  roe  of  the 
muUet  or  tunny,  salted 
and  dried 

Both  Sicilies.  See  Sicilies, 
both 

BowTEB,  a  maker  of  bows 

Boy  Bishop,  consecbation  of 
(p.  381),  an  annual  mum- 
mery in  most  English 
cathedral  towns,  on  St. 
Nicholas's  Day  (6th  De- 
cember), a  boy  bishop  being 
elected  in  mockery  of  the 
clergy 

Bbache,  a  kind  of  sporting 
dog,  that  hunted  by  scent 

Bbansle,  a  brawl,  species 
of  dance,  resembling  the 
cotillon 

Bbetagne,  Brittany 

Bboad-piece,  an  old  Eng- 
lish gold  coin  —  208.  first 
issued  by  James  I.  in 
1619 

Bbockenbebg,  or  Bbocken 
Hill,  a  summit  in  the 
Harz  Mountains  of  Ger- 
many, where  the  witches 
were  believed  to  assemble 
for  weird  revelry  at  least 
once  a  year 

Bbutt,  rtmiour 

Bull,  wild,  called  in  Latin 
urtis,  whence  Uri  (see  p. 
190) 

BuoN  oahpaona,  open 
country 

Buttmholz,  near  to  Russwyl 
(q.v.)  in  the  canton  o£ 
Lucerne 


474 


GLOSSARY 


Cabaret,  a  wine-shop 

Cabkstaino,  William,  a 
troubadour  of  Roussillon, 
who  lived  in  the  end  of 
the  12th  century 

CALB90N8,  drawers 

Candla,  or  Ceetb,  was  at 
the  date  of  this  novel  a 
possession  of  Venice; 
nearly  all  the  Levant, 
except  this  island  and 
Rhodes  {q.  v.),  was  subject 
to  the  Turks 

Capote,  a  long  shaggy  over- 
coat 

Caravanseea,  an  inn 

Carbonado,  a  piece  of  meat 
or  game,  seasoned  and 
broiled 

Carcanet,  a  necklace,  circlet 
of  jewels 

Carolus  hoc  busto,  etc. 
(p.  471).  In  this  tomb  is 
embalmed  Charles,  the 
glory  of  the  Burguudian 
nation,  formerly  the  terror 
of  Europe 

Carthtjslan  friars,  take, 
amongst  other  vows,  one 
of  almost  total  silence 

Cathay,  China 

Caurus,  in  ancient  Greek 
mythology,  the  West- 
North-West  Wind 

Chaitron,  or  chamfron,  the 
armoured  frontlet  of  a 
horse 

Chalumbau,  areed  made 
into  an  instrument  of 
music 

Charles  the  Simplb,  a  feeble 
puppet-king  of  France, 
who  reigned  in  the  end  of 
the  9th  and  beginning  of 
the  10th  century 

Clarence  and  his  father- 
in-law  (p.  318).  George 
Duke  of  Clarence,  brother 
of  Edward  IV.,  married 
Isabella,  daughter  of  War- 
wick the  King-maker. 
Clarence  and  Warwick 
went  over  to  Henry  VI. ; 
but  the  duke  soon  aban- 
doned his  f  a  t  h  e  r-i  n-1  a  w 
and  returned  to  join  his 
brother 

CoiF,  a  woman's  head-dress 

CoBSO,  the   chief  street   or 

square  in  an  Italian  town 
C6t^  roti,  wine  grown  on 
a  sunny  slope 

Couci,  Inqklram  de,  or  En- 
OUERRAND  VII.,  married 
Isabella,  a  daughter  of 
Edward  III.  of  England, 
and  in  1374-75  claimed 
certain  Swiss  territories  as 
belonging  to  the  dowry  of 


his   mother,   an  Austrian 

princess 
CouR  PL^NiiiRE,  a  great 

gathering  of  all  a  king's 

vassals 
CousiN-ARCHERS,    associatcs, 

used  contemptuously 
Credo,  the    Apostles'    (or 

other)  Creed 
Cresset,  a  large  kind  of 

candlestick  for  holding  a 

small  fire  or  illuminant 


Dalmatic,  dalmatiqub,  a 
long  ecclesiastical  robe 

Deo  gratias.  To  God  be  the 
thanks 

*  Der  Rhein,  der  Rhein,'  etc. 
(p.  468).  The  Rhine,  the 
Rhine,  blessed  be  the 
Rhine.  There  grow  our 
noble  grapes,  etc. 

DiBNSTTAG,  serving-day, 
Tuesday 

Diet,  the  national  assembly 

DiJON  (p.  301),  is  more  than 
100  miles  from  Strasburg 
as  the  "crow  flies,  and  lies 
south-west  from  BEle, 
whereas  Strasburg  lies 
north  from  BSle 

DiNOSTAO,  court-day, 
Tuesday 

DoM  Daniel,  in  Oriental 
lore,  a  huge  cavern  sup- 
posed to  lie  'under  the 
roots  of  the  ocean,'  in 
which  evil  spirits,  en- 
chanters, and  other  wicked 
beings  are  confined 

DooMSMEN,  all  who  gathered 
at  the  doom,  or  great 
popular  court 

DoRFF,  correctly  dorf,  a 
village 

Double-ganger,  or  dop- 
PBLGANGER,  a  spectral 
counterpart  of  a  living 
person 

Ducat,  an  old  gold  coin, 
worth  about  9s.  4d. 


Echevin,  sheriff,  assessor 

Einsiedlen,  or  Einsibdeln, 
a  celebrated  Benedictine 
abbey,  a  few  miles  south 
of  the  Lake  of  Zurich 

Empire,  ban  of.  See  Ban 
of  the  Empire 

Entrechat,  a  caper 

Eresburgh,  an  old  frontier 
fortress  or  fortified  camp 
of  the  ancient  Saxons, 
about  18  miles  south  of 
Paderborn 

EscossAis,  Scotsmen 

EsPADON,  a  long  heavy  sword 


l&TRENNEs,    a   free  gift, 

earnest-money 
EuRUS,  in  ancient  Greek 

mythology,  the  East  Wind 

Fadgb,  to  succeed,  fit,  turn 
out  well 

Faustrecht,  club-law,  the 
right  claimed  by  the  petty 
barons  of  the  Empire  to 
wage  private  warfare 

Ferette,  La,  a  district  or 
county  in  southern  Alsace 

Festival  of  Asses,  cele- 
brated on  14th  January, 
in  commemoration  of  the 
Flight  into  Egypt  of  Joseph 
and  Mary 

Fete-Dieu,  a  five-days' 
festival,  consisting  of 
processions,  spectacles, 
games,  etc.,  first  arranged 
by  King  Rene  in  1462,  and 
celebrated  annually  at  Aix 

Fiat  voluntas  tua.  Thy 
will  be  done 

Filles  repent]^es,  fallen 
women 

Foltekkammer,  atorture- 
chamber 

Forest  Cantons,  Lucerne, 
Uri,  Schwyz,  and  Unter- 
walden,  grouped  around 
the  Lake  of  Lucerne 

Free  cities  of  the  Empire, 
owed  allegiance  to  no 
prince  or  riiler  except  the 
emperor 

Free  count  of  the  Empire, 
a  count  who  owed  alle- 
giance to  no  feudal  superior 
except  the  emperor 

Freegraves,  free  counts, 
judges  of  the  Vehmic 
tribunals 

Fbetenbach,  near  Zurich ; 
there  the  Confederates 
were  attacked  on  22d 
May  1443  by  Austria  and 
Zurich 

Fretfeldgericht,  free  field 
court 

Freygraffschaften,  free 
counties 

Frbtschoppfen,  or  frei- 
schoffen,  free  bailiffs, 
sheriffs 

Fkohner,  a  summoner,  minor 
judicial  oflScer 

Galilee,  a  porch  or  chapel 
beside  a  monastery  or 
church,  in  which  the 
monks  received  visitors, 
where  processions,  were 
formed,  penitents  sta- 
tioned, and  so  forth.  See 
Note  25,  p.  443,  of  Fair 
Maid  0/  Perth 


GLOSSARY 


475 


Oatt,  an  admimstrative  dis- 
trict of  the  German 
Empire 

Gauds,  trinkets,  ornaments 

Geab,  business,  affair ;  prop- 
erty, goods 

Gbibrstbin,  vulture-stone 

G  EBB  FA,   or   GEAF,    COUnt, 

earl 

Geysleb,  or  Gessler,  the 
bailiff  of  the  Duke  of 
Austria  in  Switzerland, 
the  oppressive  tyrant  who 
figures  in  the  story  of 
William  Tell 

Gbaffslust,  or  Gbafen- 
LUST,  means  ' count's 
delight' 

Gbavb,  a  coimt 

GUTTEB-BLOODED,  Of    the 

meanest  birth 


Haobttt,  a  musket,  arque- 
buse 

Handsel,  earnest-money 

Hanse,  or  Hansa,  an  asso- 
ciation of  trading  towns, 
very  powerful  on  the 
Baltic  and  North  Sea 
coasts  of  Germany 

Hauptman,  more  correctly 
HAUPTMANN,  a  Captain 

EEeilbronn,  an  old  German 
town  on  the  Jfeckar, 
about  30  miles  north  of 
Stuttgart 

Hbimlichb  acht,  the  secret 
tribunal  of  the  V  e  h  m  i  c 
institution 

Helvetia,  the  Latin  name 
for  Switzerland 

Hbnbt  V.  (p.  309),  carried 
an  invading  army  from 
England  over  to  France, 
but  not  from  France  into 
Italy 

Hbbmitagb  (p.  378),  wine 
grown  in  a  vineyard  situ- 
ated 10  or  11  miles  north 
of  Valence,  in  the  south- 
east of  France 

Hyfocaust,  a  stove,  heating 
apparatus 


*I    HAVE    SEEN    THE    WICKED 

MAN,'  etc.  (p.  159).  Com- 
pare Psalm  xxxvii.  35,  36 

IiJiUMiNATi,  a  secret  society 
foimded  by  Adam  Weis- 
haupt  at  Ingolstadt  in 
1776  for  promoting  general 
enlightenment  and  com- 
bating tyranny 

Illustbissimo,  very  illus- 
trious sir 

Insouciant,  heedless,  re- 
gardless 


Ieminsule,  or  Ibmins  axjlb, 
a  pillar  dedicated  to  Irmin, 
an  ancient  Teutonic  deity 

JoNOLEUB,  a  minstrel-poet  of 

Northern  France 
J  o  T  E  u  s  E   ENTBfe,  making 

entry  in  festal  fashion 
Joyous  science,  minstrelsy 
Judgment  of  God,  trial  by 

ordeal,   such    as  judicial 

combat,    carrying    red-hot 

iron,  etc. 

JUNGHEBBN,  Or  JUNGHEBBBN, 

a  gener^  title  given  to 
the  sons  of  nobles 

King  of  Gods  and  Men, 
the  Zeus  of  the  Greeks, 
Jupiter  of  the  Romans 

Kino  of  Naples,  style  of, 
etc.  (p.  373),  from  Henry 
VI.,  Part  ni.  Act  i.  sc.  4 

Koenigsfeldt,  or  K  6  n  i  g  s- 
FELDEN,  in  the  canton  of 
Aargau,  about  17  miles 
north-west  of  Zurich 

KoNiGSSTUHL,  kin  g's  seat, 
seat  of  judgment 

Kbeutzeb,  or  cbeutzeb,  an 
old  silver  or  copper  coin 
of  Germany,  formerly 
=  l§d. 

LaFebettb.  /S^ee  Ferette, 
La 

Lammebgeieb,  or  lamheb- 
GEiEB,  the  Bearded  Vul- 
ture, the  largest  bird  of 
prey  of  the  Old  World 

L  A  N  D  A 1 3,  Peteb,  favourite 
of  Francis  IL,  Duke  of 
Brittany;  he  was  the 
son  of  a  tailor,  and  was 
hanged  at  Nantes  in 
1485 

Landamman,  the  chief 
magistrate  in  a  Swiss 
canton 

Landvogt,  a  bailiff 

Lanzknecht,  or  lands- 
KNECHT,  a  German  mer- 
cenary soldier 

Laupen,  in  the  canton  of 
Berne;  there  the  Swiss 
peasants  defeated  the 
neighbouring  feudal  nobles 
in  1339 

League B,  a  fixed  camp, 
generally  fortified  or  en- 
trenched 

Le  BON  Roi  Rbn^,  good  King 
Rene 

Leumund,  general  bad  repu- 
tation 

Liege  (p.  154),  was  taken  by 
Charles  of  Burgundy  in 
1467,  and,  after  a  rising 


of  the  citizens,  again  in 
1468,  when  he  treated  the 
people  with  much  severity 
and  cruelty 

LOBETTO,    HOLY    HOUSE    OF,    a 

small  room  traditionally 
believed  to  have  been  the 
Nazareth  home  of  the 
Virgin  Mary,  is  reverenced 
at  Loretto  near  Ancona, 
on  the  Adriatic  coast  of 
Italy 

Los,  or  LAUS,  praise 

Los  EL,  a  good-for-nothing, 
worthless  fellow 

Louis  XI.,  AGENTS  OF.  Oue 
of  his  principal  advisers 
was  the  ci-devant  barber, 
Oliver  le  Dain,  who  figures 
so  prominently  in  Quentin 
Durward;  Louis  XI. 

POISONED    HIS    BBOTHEB    (p. 

318).  Louis  caused  his 
brother  Charles,  Duke  of 
Guienne,  to  be  put  to 
death.  See  Quentin  Dur- 
ward, Note  40,  p.  446 
Lyme-hound,  a  large  dog,  as 
a  bloodhound 


Maonifico,  your 

cence 
Mails,  baggage 
Mainoub,  the  thing  stolen; 

fact,  act 
Maire,  mayor 
Maison  du  Due,  the    ducal 

palace;  maison  du  Roy, 

the  royal  palace 
Malecbkdence,  mistrust, 

the  condition  of  not  being 

believed 
Mbinhebe,  Mr. 
Meelin,    a   kind    of    hawk, 

formerly   trained  to  hunt 

game  birds 
Mete-wand,      measuring- 
rod 
MlNNESINGEB,     a     p  o  e  t- 

minstrel    of    mediaeval 

Germany 
Monition,    a   formal   notice 

requiring   the  amendment 

of  some  offence 

MONTEBBAU,      BBIDGE      OF 

(p.  360),  there  in  1419 
John  the  Fearless,  Duke 
of  Burgundy,  was  treach- 
erously slain  by  the  at- 
tendants of  the  Dauphin, 
son  of  Charles  VL  of 
France 

MoNTEBO-CAP,  a  hunts- 
man's cap,  provided  with 
flaps  for  protecting  the 
cheeks 

MoNT  L'HiET  (p.  325)  fought 
on  16th  July  1465  b-^ 
tween  Louis   XI.  on   th<« 


476 


GLOSSARY 


one  part  and  certain  of 
the  great  nobles  of  France 
on  the  other 

MoBAT,  or  MuBTEN,  about 
12  miles  from  Neufchatel, 
on  the  east  side  of  the 
Lake  of  Neufchatel 

MoBOUE,  the  proud,  dis- 
dainful look  of  a  superior 
to  an  inferior 

MoRisco,  a  Moor  of  Spain, 
Moorish 

Mount  Hibzbl,  close  to 
Zurich,  stormed  by  the 
Confederated  Swiss  in 
1443 


Nancy,  battlb  of,  was 
fought,  not  on  1st,  but 
on  5th,  January  1477. 
The  body  of  Charles  the 
Bold  was  found  on  the 
south-west,  not,  as  p.  458 
seems  to  imply,  on  the 
north,  of  the  city 

Nazabbnb,  correctly 
Nazabitb,  Samson  the 
Judge  of  Israel.  See 
Numbers  vi.  2  and  Judges 
xiii.  5 

Nierenstbinbb,  grown 
at  Nier stein,  10  miles 
south  of  Mayence,  on  the 
Rhine 

NiHHEBSAT,  means  'neyer 


NON    FBATEB,    CtC.    (p.    259), 

brother  is  not  safe  from 
brother,  nor  the  guest 
from  hiB  host 


OrnBNBABB  DING,  the  open 
court  of  the  Vehmic  in- 
stitution 

Obiflahhe,  the  sacred 
standard  of  the  kingdom 
of  France,  was  made  of 
red  silk  with  a  ilame-like 
edging,  and  borne  on  a 
gilded  pole 


Pa  LB  HON,    in    Thomson's 

Seasons,  Autunm 
Pab  amours,  forbidden  love 
Pabdoneb,  a  licensed  seller 

of  papal  indulgences 
Pavin,   or  PA  VAN,  a  stately 

Spanish  dance 
Pats  de  Vaud,  the  country 

of  Vaud,  a  Swiss  canton 
Pbltbt,   skins    and    furs  of 

wild  animals 
Pbnnoncelle,    a  little    flag 

fixed  to  a  lance 
Pbptb,  and  his  camlet  cloak 

(p.  419).     Sec  his  IHaryt 


under  date  30th  December 
1667 

PiASTBE,  a  silver  coin, 
worth  4s. 

PiGHT,  pitched,  placed, 
fixed 

PiLATBB,  MoNT,  more  cor- 
rectly P I  L  A  T  u  8,  a  con- 
spicuous peak  beoide  Lake 
Lucerne 

Plump,  a  clump,  collection 

PoTz  ELEMENT,  a  German 
oath 

Public  good,  war  of  the 
(p.  322),  waged  by  the 
Dukes  of  Burgundy, 
Britanny,  and  other  great 
feudatories  of  France 
against  Louis  XL  See 
Quentin  Durward,  p.  393 

Question  ART,  a  pedlar  of 
relics  or  indulgences 

Ram's  Alley,  now  Hare 
Place,  off  Fleet  Street 
and  near  Whitefriars,  a 
resort  of  thieves  and  low 
characters,  and  noted  for 
its  dirty  cook-shops 

Rebeck,  or  rebec,  a  musi- 
cal instrument  of  the  viol 
class 

Red  Land,  a  name  given  to 
"Westphalia,  the  peculiar 
home  of  the  Vehmgerichte 
or  Secret  Tribunals. 
These  were  always  most 
powerful  in  the  West,  not 
the  east,  of  the  Empire 
(p.  251).  See  also  Note  7, 
p.  469 

Reftbr,  a  horse-soldier 

Rhkinthal,  the  valley  of  the 
Rhine 

Rhinegeavb,  count  of  the 
Rhine  county,  a  district 
near  Wiesbaden 

Rhodes,  at  the  date  of  this 
novel,  was  garrisoned  by 
the  Knights  Hospitallers 
of  St.  John 

RiGADOON,  a  dance  with  a 
peculiar  hopping  step 

RiTTER,  a  knight 

RoBA  Di  GUADAGNO,  profit- 
able goods,  booty 

Roi  d'amoue,  king  of  love, 
president  of  the  trouba- 
dour courts 

RoMAUNT,  a  story  or  tale  in 
verse 

Rote,  a  kind  of  harp  or 
viol,  played  by  turning  a 
wheel 

ROUSSILLON,      MABGARET     DB 

(p.  365),  wife  of  Raymond 
of  Roussillon.  After  she 
had  partaken  of  the  horrid 


dish  of  her  lover's  heart, 
she  threw  herself  from  a 
balcony  in  order  to  escape 
the  murderous  fury  of  her 
husband 

Rudesheimer,  or  Rvde- 
sheimer,  a  variety  of 
Rhine  wine,  grown  at 
Riidesheim,  nearly  oppo- 
site to  Bingen 

RusswYL,  or  RuswYL,  in 
the  canton,  and  west  of 
the  city,  of  Lucerne.  See 
furlker  p.  47  ;  also  Buttis- 
holz  and  Couci,  Ingel. 
ram  de 


St.  Francis's  obdbb,  black 
friaks  of  (p.  250).  The 
Franciscan  friars  wore 
grey  gowns;  it  was  the 
Dominicans  who  wore 
them  black 

St.  Gall,  or  Sankt  (p.  57) 
G ALLEN,  in  the  Swiss 
canton  of  St.  Gall,  a 
famous  seat  of  learning  in 
the  middle  ages 

St.  Jacob,  chapel  of  (p.  57), 
under  the  walls  of  Zurich, 
where  in  July  1443  the 
men  of  that  town  were 
routed  by  the  Confed- 
erated Swiss.  This  must 
be  distinguished  from  the 
heroic  fight  at  St.  Jacob, 
outside  BSle,  against  the 
French,  in  August  1444 

St.  Magnus  the  Martyr, 
no  doubt  the  Earl  of 
Orkney,  who  was  assas- 
sinated in  1115,  hardly  the 
8th  century  monk  of 
Fiissen  and  St.  Gall 

St.  Martha  and  thb 
Dragon.    See  Tarrasque 

St.  Nicholas  (p.  290),  the 
patron  saint  of  thieves  and 
highway  robbers 

St.  Peter  of  the  Fetters. 
Compare  Acts  xii.  The 
chains  with  which  the 
Apostle  was  bound  were 
long  regarded  (at  Rome) 
with  almost  idolatrous 
devotion 

St.  Wendelin,  a  hermit  and 
swmeherd  of  the  district  of 
Treves,  in  the  7th  century 

Saltibe-wisb,  two  lines 
crossing  one  another 
diagonally  like  a  St. 
Andrew's  cross 

Samite,  a  heavy  silk  textile 

Sanctum  sanctobum,  the 
most  private  apartment 

Sappebment  deb  Tbufbl,  a 
Gernuu  oath 


GLOSSARY 


477 


6oABim,  sheriffs,  assessors 

SCHAFPHAUSEN,  ABYSS  OP 

(p.  256),  the  faUs  of  the 
Rhme  at  Schaffhausen, 
shortly  after  it  emerges 
from  the  Lake  of  Con- 
stance 

SCHAHFGEBICHTEB,  Or  8CHABP- 

BiCHTEK,  executioner 

ScHLAPTBUNK,  asleeping- 
draught 

ScHoppEN,  should  be  written 
SCHOPPBN,  the  initiates  of 
the  Vehmgerichte  or  Vehme 

ScHWABZBiBB,  black  beer 

ScHWABZEBiTEB,  a black 
rider,  German  mercenary 
horse-soldier  wearing 
black  uniform 

Science,  joyous,  minstrelsy 

Sempach,  in  the  canton  of 
Lucerne;  there  the  Swiss 
defeated  the  Austrian 
nobility  in  1386 

Seven  Sleepees,  noble  youths 
of  Ephesus,  shut  up  in  a 
cave  during  the  persecu- 
tion of  the  Christians  by 
the  Roman  Emperor 
Decius,  about  250;  there 
they  slept  until  the  year 
447,  when  they  awakened 
for  a  short  period 

Sibylline  leap,  the  oracular 
or  precious  saying 

Sicilies,  both.  At  different 
periods  between  the  years 
1266  and  1713  the  crown  of 
Naples  and  the  crown  of 
Sicily  were  worn  by  one 
and  the  same  ruler,  who 
governed  under  the  title 
of  King  of  the  Two 
Sicilies 

SiDDONS,  Sabah,  the  great 
tragic  actress  (1755-1831) 

Stadtholdee,  an  imperial 
deputy,  governor 

Staupfachee,  one  of  the 
champions  of  Swiss  inde- 
pendence, an  associate  of 
William  Tell 

Steineenhebz,  Fbancis 
(Fbanz)  von  Blutackee, 
equivalent  in  English  to 
Francis  Stouyheart  of 
Blood-acre 

Stell,  to  place,  fix 

Stoup,  a  drinking-cup 

Steadiots,  or  Steatiots, 
light  cavalry  recruited  in 
Albania  and  Morea  (Greece) 

Stbappado,  a  military  pun- 
ishment :  the  offender's 
hands  were  tied  behind  his 
back,  then  he  was  lifted 
up  by  them  to  a  consider- 
able height,  and  suddenly 
letfaU 


Stbickkind,  the  child  of  the 
chord,  the  prisoner  on 
trial  before  the  V  e  h  m  i  c 
tribunal 

Stube,  strictly,  a  living-room 
containing  a  stove  (Germ. 
ofen) 

Stuhlheeb,  lord  or  judge  of 
a  Vehmic  court 

SuNDGAU,  or  Uppeb  Alsacb, 
the  southern  division  of 
Alsace 

SwABiA,  an  old  duchy  and 
division  of  the  German 
empire,  now  embraced  in 
WUrtemberg,  Baden, 
Bavaria,  and  Switzer- 
land 

Swan,  white,  sacred  to 
Orpheus,  the  god  of  music, 
and  so  of  minstrelsy 

Swiss,  SPOKE  IN  (p.  217),  the 
only  language  peculiar  to 
Switzerland  is  the  Ro- 
mansch,  spoken  in  the 
canton  of  the  Grisons. 
French,  German,  and 
Italian  are  the  languages 
of  the  bulk  of  the  people 

SwrrzEB,  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land 


Talliage,  a  subsidy,  tax 

Taeasconne,  or  Taeascon, 
a  town  on  the  Rhone, 
about  15  miles  south-west 
of  Avignon 

Tabbasque,  or  Tabasqub,  the 
name  of  the  dragon  which 
in  ancient  times  terrorised 
Tarascon,  and  was  driven 
out  and  into  the  Rhone  by 
Martha,  sister  of  Mary 
Magdalene.  King  Rene 
played  the  Tarasque  in  the 
annual  masque  in  the  year 
1469 

Tete-du-pont,  the  defensive 
outwork  upon  which  the 
drawbridge  rested  when  it 
was  lowered 

Thane,  one  in  rank  inter- 
mediate between  a  free- 
man and  a  great  noble 

'The  style  op  Kino  op 
Naples,'  etc.  (p.  373), 
from  Henry  VI.,  Part  III. 
Act  i.  sc.  4 

Thou,  use  of,  in  Gebmany 
(p.  281).  Annette  Veil- 
chen  would  almost  cer- 
tainly have  used  habitually 
'  thou '  and  '  thee '  to  Anne 
of  Geierstein,  they  being 
members  of  the  same 
family  and  the  period  the 
15th  century ;  but  certainly 
slie  would  n  0 1  h  a  V  e  used 


it  to  a  stranger  like 

Arthur  Philipson 

TiEES  iTAT,  the  third  estate, 
or  representatives  of  the 
people 

TiSANNB,  or  PTISAN,  a  decoc- 
tion of  barley 

Teebizond,  Soldan  op,  a 
kingdom  in  the  north  of 
Asia  Minor,  ruled  over  by 
a  branch  of  the  Imperi^d 
Byzantine  family  of  the 
Comneni  for  two  hundred 
and  fifty  years  (till  1461) 

Tbeillage,  trellis-work 

Tboubadoitb,  a  minstrel-poet 
of  the  south  of  France 

TuBNPiKE-STAiB,  a  Spiral  or 
winding  staircase 

Uei  (p.  190),  from  urus,  the 
Latin  name  for  the  wild  ox 

UsuH  NON  habeo,  I  do  not 
know  how  to  use  it 

Vade  eeteo,  get  thee  behind 
Vail,  to  doff,  lower,  take  off 
Vambbacb,  the  piece  of 
armour  that  covered  the 
forearm 
Vbbpambt,  condemned  by 

the  Vehme,  outlawed 
Vestiaby,  a  room  for  keep- 
ing vestments 
ViSNE,  venue,  the  district 
where  a  law  action  must 
be  tried 

Walloon  guabd.  See 
Glossary  to  Quentin  Dur- 
ward,  'Black  Walloons' 

Wapentake,  an  old  sub- 
division of  the  English 
counties 

Wabband,  a  defender 

Wassail,  ale  or  wine 
sweetened  and  flavoured 
with  spices;  revelry; 
wassail-song,  a  drinking- 
song,  carousing-song 

Wein,  wine 

Welked,  or  whelked, 
marked  with  ridges  like  a 
whelk 

WildHuntsman,  a  spec- 
tral hunter,  who  sweeps 
through  the  air  with  a 
spectral  train  of  dogs  and 
evil  spirits 

Wimple,  a  shawl  worn  by 
women  out  of  doors 

WiNKELBIED,    AbNOLD,   the 

hero  who,  in  the  battle 
of  Sempach  {q.v.),  gath- 
ered up  an  armful  of 
Austrian  spears  and  buried 
them  in  his  own  bosom, 
thus  opening  a  path  for 
the   Swiss  through   tlie 


4,78 


GLOSSARY 


close-locked  ranks  of  the 

enemy 
WissBUDEK,  those  who  know, 

the  initiated 
Wboob,  or  TEA  OB,  formal 

reports,  presentments 

YUUOFRAU,    or    JUNGPKAtJ,    a 

maiden;  the  title  long 
given  to  an  immarried  lady 
of  uoble  birth 


YUNGJffiBBEN,  or  JUNGHEBEBN 

(pi. ;  sing.  Junghbbb),  or 
JuNKBB,  a  title  given  to 
young  Germans  of  noble 
birth 

Zbcchin,  or  SBQuiN,  a 
Venetian  gold  coin,  worth 
9s.  to  10s. 

ZSCHOKKB,     JOHANN     H.     D., 

German  novelist,  who  also 


wrote  a  History  of  r?ie 
Three  Leagues  in  Switzer- 
land (1798) 
ZuBicfl,  WAE  OF  (1436-50),  be- 
tween that  canton  and  the 
canton  of  Schwyz  and  its 
allies  for  the  possessions  of 
the  last  Count  of  Toggen- 
burg,  in  which  Zurich,  who 
was  assisted  by  Austria, 
was  disastrously  beaten 


INDEX 


AoNEs,  Queen,  160,  473 

Aix,  371 ;  King  Rent's  palace  at,  377 

Albert,  Emperor,  160,  473 

Alps,  2,  5 

Anne  of  Oeierstein,  the  novel,  vil 

Antonio,  the  guide,  4 ;  pleads  with  Philip- 
son,  18 

ApoUyon,  Herman  of  Amheim's  steed,  127 

Amheim,  Barons  of,  120 

Arnheim,  Herman  of,  122 ;  history  of,  126, 
283 

Amheim,  Sybilla  of,  122,  135 

Arnheim  Castle,  268 

Asses,  Festival  of,  381,  474 

Austria,  relations  with  the  Swiss,  2 


Baaeknhaxjtek,  296,  473 

Baden,  dimgeon  in  castle,  465 

Bfile,  82;  inhospitality  of,  85;  youth  of, 
rescue  the  Swiss  deputies,  195 

Bamberg,  Bishop  of,  133 

Barante,  Brugi^re  de,  quoted,  466 

Bartholomew,  the  guide,  214 ;  his  plot  foiled, 
226 

Berchtold  of  Offringen,  160,  473 

Berne,  canton  of,  42 ;  merchants  of,  76,  155 

Biederman,  Arnold,  his  house  and  farm, 
33 ;  welcomes  Arthur  Philipson,  35 ; 
description  of  him,  36 ;  conversation  with 
Philipson,  41 ;  his  noble  descent,  53 ;  in- 
terview with  Schreckenwald,  58 ;  stops 
the  duel,  68;  refused  admittance  into 
BSle,  85 ;  reproves  his  son  Ernest,  87 ; 
his  respect  for  Philipson,  146 ;  is  met  by 
Arthur  Philipson,  187  ;  conference  with 
De  Hagenbach,  193 ;  shut  up  in  the  dun- 
geon, 197  ;  asks  counsel  of  Philipson,  206 ; 
addresses  Charles  the  Bold,  353 ;  at 
Nancy,  457,  462 

Biederman,  Ernest,  reproved  by  his  father, 
87 

Biederman,  Rudiger,  48 ;  at  GrafEslust,  105, 
117 ;  bidden  get  the  Philipsons  away,  201 ; 
his  death,  459 

Biederman,  Sigismund,  97,  141 ;  reports 
having  seen  the  apparition,  141 ;  his  de- 
votion to  Arthur  PMlipson,  185 ;  recovers 
the  casket,  206 ;  describes  the  battle  of 
Granson,  <K)7 ;  returns  the  casket  a  sec- 


ond time,  416  ;  in  Aix  society,  418  ;  aids 

Arthur  at  Nancy,  459 
Black  priest  of  St.  Paul's.    See  Oeierstein, 

Albert  of 
Block,  Martin,  346 

Blue  Knight.    See  Vaudemont,  Ferrand  de 
Boisgelin,  lady  of,  399 
Bonstetten,  Nicholas,  77,  81,  93;  gives  his 

mule  to  Philipson,  147 ;  justifies  himself, 

201 ;  objects  to  ride  on  horseback,  210 
Boy  Bishop,  381,  473 
Brisach,  149,  152 ;  invaded  by  the  youth  of 

Bale,  195 
Brockenberg,  280,  474 
Burgundy,  Duke  of.    See  Charles  the  Bold 
Burgundy,  Estates  of,  345 
Buttisholz,  bow  of,  45 ;  battle  of,  47 


Cabbstaino,  William,  365,  474 

Campo-basso,  Count  of,  329,  334 ;  speaks  in 
his  own  defence,  356 ;  his  doubtful  aims, 
439;  brings  news  of  Ferrand  de  Vaude- 
mont, 441 ;  makes  a  reconnaissance,  445  ; 
treachery  to  Duke  Charles,  455,  458,  460 

Candia,  301,  474 

Caspar,  stable-master,  127 

Charles  the  Bold,  his  relations  with  the 
Swiss,  42,  72 ;  with  Edward  IV.  of  Eng- 
land, 62,  72;  his  camp  near  Dijon,  314; 
interview  with  Philipson,  316 ;  his  dreams 
of  Provence,  321 ;  disguised  as  a  Walloon, 
331 ;  receives  the  Estates  of  Burgundy, 
345;  receives  the  Swiss  deputies,  349; 
interview  with  Philipson,  359;  defeated 
at  Granson,  407 ;  at  Morat,  427 ;  his 
despair,  431;  roused  by  Philipson,  435; 
siunmoned  before  the  Vehme,  444;  his 
death,  458,  460,  471 ;  Des  Comines  on, 
471. 

Child  of  the  cord,  255 

Clarence,  George,  Duke  of,  318,  474 

Cologne,  Archbishop  of,  417 

Colvin,  Henry,  314 ;  entertains  Philipson, 
328;  sends  off  Arthur  Philipson,  337; 
relates  the  battle  of  Morat,  427 ;  visits 
tlie  outposts,  455 ;  killed,  457 

Comines,  Philip  des,  434  ;  quoted,  471 

Compass,  mariner's,  8 

Contay,  Lord  de,  326,  433,  436,  451 


480 


INDEX 


Corbey,  Free  Field  Court  of,  viii,  x 
Coruwall,  chivaliy  of,  105 
Couci,  Ingelram  de,  47,  474 
Craon,  Lord  de,  433 

Dannischemend,  the  Persian  magus,  128 

Dijon,  Charles's  camp  near,  314 ;  the  city, 
341,  474.    See  also  Maire  of  Dijon 

Dom  Daniel,  278,  474 

Ponnerhugel,  Rudolph,  38 ;  his  jealousy  of 
Arthur  Philipson,  48 ;  challenges  him,  51 ; 
duel  with  him,  64 ;  patrols  round  Graffs- 
lust,  96 ;  invites  Arthur  Philipson  to  join 
the  league,  114;  his  tale  of  the  Arnheims, 
120 ;  is  met  by  Arthur  Philipson,  185 ;  his 
policy,  203;  his  story  explained,  283; 
replies  to  Charles  the  Bold,  350;  chal- 
lenges the  Burgundians,  352 ;  challenges 
Arthur  Philipson,  442  ;  slain  by  him,  446 

Donnerhugel,  Theodore,  40 

Double-ganger,  142,  465 

Dungeon,  German,  175,  456 

Edwabd  rV.  of  England,  62,  72 ;  his  inva- 
sion of  Prance,  309, 317  ;  makes  peace  with 
Louis  XI.,  359 

Einsiedlen,  Our  Lady  of,  12;  the  abbey, 
474 

Eresburgh,  viii,  474 

Executioner,  of  La  Perette,  163, 199 ;  office 
of,  465         ^ 

Pfebttb,  La,  town  and  castle  of,  75 
Ferry,  Chapel  of  the,  216,  225 
Fgte-Dieu,  381,  474 
Fire,  sacred,  of  the  Zoroastrians,  128 
Flying  Stag  Inn,  in  Strasburg,  300 
Forest  Cantons,  3,  43,  56,  474 
Preyenbach,  57,  475 

Gauleb,  475 

Garagoule,  Lou,  388 

Geierstein,  Albert  of,  54;  demands  back 
his  daughter,  60;  warns  De  Hagenbach, 
159 ;  liberates  Arthur  Philipson,  177 ; 
foils  Bartholomew,  226;  arrives  at  the 
inn,  244;  at  the  Vehmegericht,  255; 
speaks  for  the  Burgundian  clergy,  345; 
brings  a  letter  to  Arthur  Philipson,  391  ; 
interview  with  him,  447 ;  appointed  to 
kill  Duke  Charles,  450;  his  own  death, 
459 

Geierstein,  Anne  of,  rescues  Arthur  Philip- 
son, 25 ;  description  of  her,  29 ;  her 
manner  towards  Donnerhugel,  39 ;  asks 
for  the  bow  of  Buttisholz,  45;  brought 
to  Arnold  Biederman,  58 ;  her  watchful- 
ness prevents  the  duel,  70 ;  dedicates  the 
pearls  to  Our  Lady  of  Einsiedlen,  72 ;  at 
Grafifslust,  91,  94 ;  apparition  of,  100,  108, 
285 ;  her  ancestry,  120,  139 ;  leads  Arthur 
Philipson  from  the  dungeon,  177 ;  warns 
him  on  the  road,  217 ;  at  Amheim  Castle, 
270;  interview  with  Arthur  Philipson, 
279 ;  comments  upon  Donnerhugel's  story, 
283;  keeps  Schreckenwald  in  his  place, 
290;  travels  to  Strasburg,  294;  her 
nurriage,  463 


Geierstein,  Castle  of,  12,  30 

Geierstein,  family  of,  52 

Geoffrey,  the  ostler,  232 

German  inn,  232 

Geysler,  or  Gessler,  200,  475 

Glossary,  473 

Goetz  of  Berlichingen,  story  of,  213 

Golden  Fleece,  order  of,  343 

Golden  Fleece  Inn,  232 

Graffslust,  86,  90 

Granson,  battle  of,  407 

Gratian,  Father,  begging  friar,  237,  241 

Guantes,  440,  470 

Hagenbach,  Archibald  de,  75 ;  consults 
with  Kilian,  153;  warned  by  the  priest 
of  St.  Paul's,  159 ;  his  conversation  with 
the  executioner,  163 ;  robs  and  imprisons 
the  Philipsons,  165;  appropriates  the 
valuable  packet,  169 ;  insults  the  Swiss 
deputies,  193 ;  executed,  198 

Hagenbach,  Pierre  de,  execution  of,  466 

Hans,  the  boatman,  his  chapel,  216,  225; 
story  of,  222 

Hansa,  xii,  475 

Heilbronn,  155,  475 

Henry  V.  of  England,  309,  475 

Hermione,  the  Persian,  131,  284 

Hermitage  vineyard,  378,  475 

Hochspringen,  Duke  of,  134 

*  If  I  hit  mast,'  etc.,  49 
lUuminati,  469,  475 
Inn,  German,  232 
Introduction,  Author's,  vii 

Kilian,  Hagenbach's  squire,  153 ;  brings  the 
Philipsons  before  him,  165 ;  argues  with 
him,  171,  190 

Kirchhoff,  218,  222,  224 

Koenigsfeldt,  160,  475 

La  Fbebtte.    See  Ferette,  La 

Lammergeier,  22 

Landais,  Peter,  462,  475 

Laupen,  2,  475 

Laurenz.    See  Yaudemont,  Ferrand  de 

Liege,  154,  475 

Loretto,  246,  475 

Lorraine,  state  of,  320,  364,  368,  405,  440 

Louis  XL,  his  astute  policy,  42 ;  his  min- 
isters, 173,  465;  makes  peace  with  Ed- 
ward IV.,  359,  475;  declared  heir  to 
Provence,  425 

Love,  Parliament  of,  366,  470 

Lucerne,  3 ;  lake  of,  5 

Maire  of  Duon,  342,  358 

Margaret,  widow  of  Henry  VI.,  in  Stras- 
burg cathedral,  302 ;  annoyed  by  King 
Rent's  levity,  380 ;  at  Mont  St.  Victoire, 
385 ;  interview  with  Arthur  Philipson, 
386 ;  welcomed  home  by  King  Ren6,  398  ; 
persuades  him  to  resign  his  domiuionsi 
401 ;  her  death,  419 ;  funeral,  422 

Matthew  of  Doncaster,  46 

Mayor  of  Dijou.    See  Maire  of  Dijon 


INDEX 


481 


*  Measures  of  good  and  evil,'  250 

Mengs,    John,    innkeeper,    235;    offended 

witli  Philipson,  239,  242;    apologises  to 

him,  247 
Montereau,  bridge  of,  360,  476 
Mont  I'Hery,  325,  476 
Mont  St.  Victoire.    See  St.  Victoire,  Mont 
Morat,  or  Murten,  battle  of,  427 
Myrebeau,  Sire  de,  346 

Nancy,  besieged  by  Charles,  443 ;  battle  of, 
456,476 

Opal,  the  mystic,  132, 135, 137 
Oxford,  Earl  of.    See  Philipson,  John 

Palgbavb,  Mr.  Francis,  quoted,  viii,  x 

Parliament  of  Love,  366,  470 

Philipson,  Arthur,  travelling  in  the  Alps, 
3 ;  attempts  to  reach  Arnold  Biederman's, 
14;  alarmed  by  the  lammergeier,  22; 
rescued  by  Anne  of  Geierstein,  25  ;  shoots 
the  bow  of  Buttisholz,  48 ;  challenged  by 
Donnerhugel,  51 ;  duel  with  him,  64 ; 
thoughts  of  Anne  of  Geierstein,  79,  94, 
99 ;  ^kes  Sigismund's  post  as  sentinel, 
97 ;  sees  the  apparition  of  Anne  of  Geier- 
stein, 100, 108 ;  his  dislike  of  Donnerhugel, 
106 ;  invited  to  join  the  Swiss  youths,  114  ; 
is  told  the  history  of  the  Arnheims,  120 ; 
reports  to  his  father,  145 ;  in  the  dungeon 
of  La  Ferette,  175 ;  led  out  of  it  by  Anne 
of  Geierstein,  177 ;  sent  to  warn  the  Swiss, 
181  ;  meets  Donnerhugel,  184  ;  meets 
Arnold  Bierderman,  187  ;  seeks  his  father, 
196 ;  warned  by  Anne  of  Gteierstein,  217 ; 
consulted  by  his  father,  218;  separates 
from  him,  225 ;  arrives  at  Arnheim 
Castle,  265;  his  interview  with  Anne  of 
Geierstein,  279 ;  discloses  his  rank  to  her, 
287 ;  accompanies  her  to  Strasburg,  294 ; 
meets  Queen  Margaret,  302 ;  sets  off  for 
Provence,  337 ;  ^s  audience  of  King 
Ren6, 375 ;  visits  Queen  Margaret  at  Mont 
St.  Victoire,  386 ;  receives  his  father's 
letter,  391;  discovers  the  invisible  ink, 
394 ;  is  told  who  the  Carmelite  was,  414 ; 
challenged  again  by  Donnerhugel,  442; 
slays  hun,  446 ;  conversation  with  Albert 
of  Geierstein,  447 ;  visits  the  outposts, 
455;  his  marriage,  463 

Philipson,  John,  travelling  as  a  merchant, 
3;  his  anxiety  regarding  Arthur,  18; 
reunited  with  him,  35;  his  conversation 
with  Arnold  Biederman,  41 ;  stops  the 
duel,  68;  gives  pearls  to  Anne  of  Geier- 
stein, 71 ;  resolves  to  part  from  the  Swiss 
envoys,  146;  robbed  and  imprisoned  by 
Hagenbach,  165,  168 ;  rescued  from  the 
dungeon,  198 ;  in  counsel  with  the  Swiss 
envoys,  204;  recovers  the  casket,  206; 
is  suspicious  of  Bartholomew,  215;  con- 
sults with  Arthur,  218 ;  separates  from 
him,  225  ;  meets  the  priest  of  St.  Paul's, 
226 ;  arrives  at  the  inn,  232 ;  offends  John 
Mengs,  239,  242 ;  arraigned  before  the 
Vehme,  249,  255 ;  meets  Queen  Margaret, 
302  ;  his  interview  with  Charles  the  Bold, 

VOL.  XXIII — 31 


316 ;  pleads  for  the  Swiss  deputies,  324, 
332;  surprised  by  Duke  Charles,  331; 
another  interview  with  him,  359;  his 
letter  to  Arthur,  391 ;  attends  Queen 
Margaret's  funeral,  423 ;  rouses  Duke 
Charles,  435;  visits  the  outi>osts,  455; 
returns  to  England,  463 

PUatre  (PUatus),  Mount,  6 

Pontius  Pilate,  legend  of,  6 

Provence,  311,  365, 369 ;  ParUament  of  Love 
in,  366,  470 

Public  Good,  war  of,  324,  476 

Ram's  Alley,  London,  242,  476 

Red  Land,  Red  SoU,  257,  260, 469,  476 

Ren6,  King,  307;  Charles's  estimate  of, 
319 ;  accoimt  of  him,  367  ;  his  chimney, 
372;  in  the  throes  of  composition,  374; 
interview  with  Arthur,  375 ;  his  fondness 
for  pageants,  381 ;  masqued  as  Solomon, 
382 ;  welcomes  home  his  daxighter,  398 ; 
resigns  his  dominions,  402 

Rhine,  river,  84,  468 ;  valley  of,  213,  264 ; 
Hans's  ferry,  216,  222 

Roussillon,  Margaret  de,  365,  476 

Roussillon,  Raymond  de,  365 

Russwyl,  4,  476 

St.  Cyb,  Hugh  de,  378 

St.  Jacob,  battle  of,  57,  476 

St.  Magnus  the  Martyr,  203,  477 

St.  Paul's,  black  priest  of.  See  Ckierstein, 
Albert  of 

St.  Peter  of  the  Fetters,  197,  477 

St.  Victoire,  Mont,  379,  383 ;  monastery  of, 
384 ;  oracle  of  Lou  Garagoule,  388 

Schaffhausen,  falls  of,  256,  477 

Scharfgerichter.    See  Steinemherz,  Francis 

Schonfeldt,  Lieutenant,  156 

Schreckenwald,  Ital,  56,  289;  brings  Anne 
of  Geierstein  to  her  imcle,  58  ;  repri- 
manded by  her,  290 ;  conducts  her  to 
Strasburg,  295;   his  death,  459 

Secret  Tribunal.    See  Vehmegericht 

Sicilies,  Both,  307,  477 

Soleure,  merchants  of,  76,  155 

Steinemherz,  Francis,  executioner,  163, 166 ; 
beheads  his  own  master,  199 

Steinfeldt,  Baroness,  136,  285 

Stradiots,  442 

Strappado,  477 

Strasburg,  flying  Stag  Inn,  300 ;  cathedral, 
301 

Strickkind,  255 

Sturmthal,  Melchior,  78,  90, 188 

Swabia,  55,  477 

Swiss,  relations  of,  with  Austria,  2 ;  with 
Charles  of  Burgundy,  42,  72;  languages 
of,  217,  477 ;  battle  of  Granson,  407 ;  of 
Morat,  427  ;  of  Nancy,  457 

Swiss  envoys,  76 ;  refused  admittance  to 
BSle,  85;  warlike  inclinations,  77,  81, 
118 ;  Oxford  pleads  for  them,  324,  332 ; 
have  audience  of  Charles  the  Bold,  349 

TAHRA8QXIB,  381,  477 

Thiebault,  the  Proven^l,  339,  364;  his 
tales,  365 ;  in  attendance  upon  Arthur 


482 


INDEX 


Philipson,  377,  379,  458;  his  account  of 

King  Ren£,  380 
*  Thou,'  use  of,  by  Germans,  281,  477 
Trebizond,  Sultan  of,  285,  477 
Troubadours,  Proyengal,  365,  469 

Ubttb,  horn  of,  19 

VACDBMOirr,  Ferrand  de,  as  the  Blue 
Knight  of  Bfile,  112;  at  Brisach,  200; 
his  political  position,  368 ;  interrupts 
King  Ren6  and  Queen  Margaret,  405; 
his  military  operations,  440;  releases 
Arthur  Philipson,  446 

Vehmegericht,  Vehme,  Palgrave's  account 
of,  viii,  X ;  Author's,  250,  253 ;  trial  of 
Philipson  before,  250,  255 ;  relations  with 


Charles  the  Bold,  333,  444;  origin  of 
word,  468 ;  head  of,  470 

Veilchen,  Annette,  receives  Arthur  Philip- 
son, 265;  announces  his  arrival,  270; 
chidden  by  Anne  of  Geierstein,  276, 
282 ;  her  reflections,  294 ;  settled  in 
life,  463 

Vienne,  Archbishop  of,  344;  replies  to 
Donnerhugel,  351 ;  brings  tidings,  359 

Vulture,  Alpine  (lammergeier),  22 

Waldstettbn,  Countess,  133,  285 
Winkelreid,  Arnold,  34,  478 
Wolf-fanger,  Donnerhugel's  hound,  107 
Wolves  in  Switzerland,  78 

ZmuBBHAN,  Adam,  viii,  78,  81,  89, 188 
Zurich,  war  of,  44,  57,  478 


JUL  2  1  1&67 


PR53I7 
A5 


fm*-  ';«*'«  «\1 


